Frankie Montas DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

New York Mets right-hander Frankie Montas (lat), who has been diagnosed with a high-grade lat strain, said he's "already feeling better" from the platelet-rich plasma injection that he received at camp this week. Montas will not throw for four to six weeks, which is a little more optimistic than the team's projection. "It's not how you start," Montas said. "It's how you finish." The Mets said earlier this week that the 31-year-old veteran would be kept from throwing for six to eight weeks. It's not uncommon for players to be more optimistic, but that doesn't mean he'll return sooner than later in 2025, especially when considering his past injury concerns. Once Montas resumes throwing, he's going to need a full spring training's worth of time to ramp up, which means he's pretty much a lock to miss at least the first month of the regular season.

The New York Post's Jon Heyman reports that New York Mets right-hander Frankie Montas (lat) is dealing with a high-grade lat strain and will be shut down for six to eight weeks. Once he's healthy enough to return, he'll need a full spring-training buildup. It's early bad news for New York's starting rotation and means that Montas will not be ready for Opening Day in his first year in Queens. The 31-year-old signed a two-year, $34 million deal with the Mets in the offseason but will now receive a platelet-rich plasma injection in hopes of speeding up his recovery. At the very least, Montas will likely miss all of the first month of the season and probably more. It means that both Griffin Canning and Tylor Megill could begin the year in the Mets' starting rotation, with Paul Blackburn (back) also competing for a spot.

Free-agent right-hander Frankie Montas signed a two-year deal worth $34 million on Sunday with the New York Mets. The deal includes an opt-out clause after the 2025 season and $17 million per year. Montas, 31, comes to the Big Apple after spending the 2024 campaign with the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers. He went a combined 7-11 during the regular season with a 4.84 ERA (4.71 FIP), a 1.37 WHIP and a 148:66 K:BB in 150 2/3 innings pitched over 30 starts. Montas, who made just one outing the year prior with the New York Yankees due to injury, was better in Milwaukee with a 4.55 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in his 11 start (57 1/3 innings). The veteran right-hander will fill one of New York's starting rotation spots in 2025 and will look to improve upon his 2024 numbers another year removed from injury. Montas' 28.7% strikeout rate last year was encouraging.