Mets’ free-agent signing out for extended period with lat injury

The New York Mets are going to have begin the 2025 season without one of their impact offseason signings.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza revealed to reporters on Monday that new signing Frankie Montas has suffered a high-grade lat strain. Montas will now be shut down from throwing for six-to-eight weeks as a result, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.

The 31-year-old right-hander Montas just signed with the Mets in December. He agreed to a two-year, $34 million contract with the team after splitting time last season between the Cincinnati Reds and the Milwaukee Brewers.

Montas is a nine-year MLB veteran who went 7-11 in 2024 with a 4.84 ERA in 30 total starts between his two teams. His peak season came in 2022 with the Oakland Athletics when Montas went 13-9 with a 3.37 ERA and 207 strikeouts, even finishing sixth in AL Cy Young voting that year.

With a strong K rate and a decent walk rate, Montas was expected to be a key mid-rotation piece this season for the Mets. But with the lat injury set to cost him significant time to begin 2025, Montas, who has an opt-out after the first year of his contract, could struggle to make an impact this season.

Now that Montas is on the shelf, the Mets will likely rely on a starting five of Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Paul Blackburn, and fellow new signing Clay Holmes. There are also some other veterans that the Mets picked up this offseason who can fill in beyond that, but the Montas news is still undoubtedly a disappointment.