Mets Move Frankie Montas to Bullpen After Rough Start

The New York Mets are shaking up their rotation, moving right-hander Frankie Montas to the bullpen after his rocky return from injury. Manager Carlos Mendoza is searching for stability as the team battles through an inconsistent summer.

Montas signed a two-year, $34 million contract in December, but he hasn’t delivered the results the Mets hoped for. Now, his future role looks uncertain, and top prospects are getting a shot to prove themselves.

Frankie Montas’ Difficult Road Back

Expectations soared when the Mets landed Frankie Montas in free agency. Then spring training hit him with a strained right lat muscle, and his debut got pushed back until late in the season.

Since coming back, things haven’t looked great. Montas struggled during rehab, posting a 12.05 ERA in six outings. In his first eight games with the Mets—seven as a starter—he went 3-2 with a 6.38 ERA and never made it past 5 2/3 innings.

The Mets wanted stability from a veteran, but his numbers raise questions about both his performance and durability.

Limited Innings, Lingering Concerns

Montas’ short starts have piled extra work on the bullpen. Since June 7, only David Peterson has managed to pitch more than six innings in a game for the Mets.

During that stretch, the team’s gone 23-31. Starting pitching depth feels like a glaring weakness right now.

In his last start against Milwaukee, Montas threw 72 pitches in just three innings, allowing three runs (one earned). Manager Mendoza pointed out the need for more consistency and acknowledged Montas’ health issues this year.

Team Struggles and the Urgency to Adapt

The Mets hit a low point with a seven-game losing streak, then bounced back with a 13-5 win over Atlanta. Still, New York’s five games behind the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies, so they can’t just wait around for Montas to turn things around.

Rotation Uncertainty and Next Man Up

The Mets haven’t named Montas’ replacement for the Seattle series yet. Two Triple-A Syracuse prospects are in the mix:

• Nolan McLean – He’s got a 2.45 ERA and throws strikes with surprising poise.
• Brandon Sproat – The hard-throwing righty has a 4.10 ERA and flashes of big-league potential.

Both pitchers are making a case for a call-up. Maybe one of them can bring some much-needed energy to the rotation.

What This Move Means for the Mets

Moving Montas to the bullpen isn’t just about changing roles. It shows the Mets feel a real sense of urgency right now.

The rotation needs stability, and the bullpen’s been worn thin. A new starter might ease the pressure, while Montas tries to find his groove in shorter outings.

A Pivotal Stretch Ahead

With playoff hopes hanging in the balance, every decision from here on out matters. The Mets need to close the gap in the NL East, and that might come down to whether these roster adjustments actually work.

The young call-ups have to deliver quality innings. Montas faces a new challenge as he shifts to the bullpen.

If things click, maybe—just maybe—the team finds the spark it’s been missing for a late-season push. But that’s a big if, and nobody’s pretending otherwise.

Right now, everyone’s watching Saturday’s game against Seattle. Will the Mets make the right call, or will the season’s turbulence continue?

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