PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets are assured they’ve a great quantity of beginning pitching depth. That depth will probably be examined proper out of the gate as right-hander Frankie Montas has been shut down with a high-grade lat pressure.
Given the timing of the harm, the Mets’ new right-hander will miss a big period of time. Montas will probably be shut down for 6-8 weeks after which will want one other 4-6 weeks to undergo his spring development. Spring coaching is the time beginning pitchers construct up their arms in anticipation of having the ability to throw about 90 pitches at the beginning of the season, so Montas should make up for misplaced time.
Even with out Montas, the Mets are nonetheless anticipated to deploy a six-man rotation, although with three off-days within the first three weeks of play and 4 earlier than the month of Could, they may use a five-man rotation and nonetheless get starters the additional day of relaxation meant.
“We’ve got options and it’s still early,” stated supervisor Carlos Mendoza. “Here we are dealing with an injury to one of our starters and we’ll continue to have those conversations.”
Montas threw a bullpen Wednesday and felt soreness in his triceps the next day. The trainers decided he wanted to bear imaging and the Mets then had a number of medical doctors take a look at the outcomes over the weekend. The 31-year-old departed Port St. Lucie for New York on Monday, the place he’ll obtain a PRP shot.
Needing beginning depth, the Mets signed Montas to a two-year, $34 million contract with a participant possibility for 2026 in December. He beforehand had shoulder surgical procedure in 2022 with the Yankees in 2022. In eight begins (9 video games) with the Mets’ crosstown rivals, Montas posted a 6.15 ERA and a 4.90 FIP.
Proper-handers Paul Blackburn, Griffin Canning and Tylor Megill will compete for the fifth and sixth rotation spots. Jose Butto and Max Kranick are usually not candidates, with the workforce wanting to make use of them in lengthy aid roles. Relying on what they see in spring coaching, the Mets could be extra inclined to hold Canning over Megill to open the season because the latter of the 2 nonetheless has one other minor league possibility left.
“Sometimes it works against guys, having that option,” Mendoza stated.
Behind these three on the depth chart are right-handers Justin Hagenman and Kevin Herget, two New Jersey natives, and left-hander Brandon Waddell, who most just lately pitched in Korea. The Mets don’t appear inclined to make use of beginning pitching prospects Brandon Sproat or Dom Hamel. After struggling as soon as they hit Triple-A final season, the Mets don’t wish to rush their improvement.
“I will say I feel much better about our starting pitching depth sitting here today than I did a year ago,” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns stated final week. “We made that a priority of our off season. We brought in a number of players at all levels of free agency.”
