New York Mets Release Veteran Starting Pitcher

Well, another day, another dollar… or in the case of the New York Mets, another $17 million down the drain. The team made a move that left fans and baseball analysts collectively scratching their heads, designating Pitcher Frankie Montas for assignment. They are paying a guy the price of a small island to not play for them. It’s the kind of front-office maneuver that makes you wonder if they’re playing chess or just knocking over the pieces.

How Did Montas Get To New York?

The Mets rolled the dice on Montas, signing him to a juicy two-year, $34 million deal. The hope was that he would be a solid arm in the rotation, a veteran presence to anchor the staff. Instead, what they got was a masterclass in Murphy’s Law. His tenure in Queens was less of a triumphant march and more of a painful limp. A strained lat in Spring Training was just the opening act. He finally took the mound only to post a cringe-worthy 6.28 ERA over nine appearances.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, Montas’s elbow decided to join the party, tearing his UCL. The diagnosis? The dreaded Tommy John surgery. That means he’s out for all of 2026. So, what does a guy do when he’s facing a year on the sidelines? He opts into his $17 million player option, of course! It’s a move you can’t even be mad at; it’s just savvy business. The Mets, however, had other plans. In a bold, if not brutal, decision, they cut him loose to free up a 40-man roster spot for a prospect.

What Went Wrong For the Mets and Montas?

From the start, the Montas experiment in New York felt cursed. The initial signing was a gamble, banking on a pitcher with a history of brilliance but also a concerning injury record. For the Mets, it was a high-risk, high-reward play that spectacularly blew up in their face. Montas made only seven starts, and his brief stint in the bullpen did little to salvage a season marred by physical setbacks. It’s a tough pill to swallow for a franchise and a fanbase desperate for a taste of glory.

A $17 Million Gamble Ends In a Whimper

Montas gets his $17 million, and the Mets get a valuable lesson in free-agent spending and a roster spot. Cutting him was a strategic, albeit expensive, move to bring up prospect Nick Morabito and protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

It shows the front office is looking toward the future, but it’s a future built on the ashes of a very expensive mistake. For Montas, who turns 33 next March, the road back to the majors is long and uncertain. He’ll spend 2026 rehabbing, a millionaire without a team, while the Mets try to explain to their fans how they lit a mountain of cash on fire. It’s just another wild chapter in the rollercoaster saga of the New York Mets.