How 4 biggest NY Mets free agent departures are performing with their new teams

Jose Quintana

Jose Quintana finished up a two-year contract with the Mets last season. He was a vital part of the Mets’ rotation, as he made 31 starts and pitched 170.1 innings with solid results. Quintana posted a 3.75 ERA and 1.25 WHIP, albeit with a 4.56 FIP. He had some unimpressive peripherals, with an 18.8% K%, 8.8% walk rate, and 1.16 HR/9. At the very least, he graded out well when it came to limiting hard contact, placing in the 74th percentile of exit velocity (88 MPH) and the 70th percentile of barrel rate (6.7%).

While there was mutual interest in a potential reunion, they ultimately did not pick the veteran left-hander up for another contract. It took Quintana a while to secure his next deal, but he eventually agreed on a one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on March 5. While the southpaw made his 2025 debut later than most, given he started spring training late and was sent to Triple-A to finish his warmup, his first few starts of the year with the Brewers looked similar to his final year with the Mets.

Quintana has a 2.65 ERA, 4.54 FIP, and 1.24 WHIP in his first 34 innings of the year. He is carrying a similar 18% strikeout rate and 8% walk rate as well. However, Quintana has been less effective at limiting hard contact, with just a 90.2 MPH exit velocity and 8.7% barrel rate. The increase in hard contact has led to his HR/9 rising to 1.32. Unfortunately for Quintana, he was recently sidelined by a shoulder impingement.

The Mets’ rotation would have been great with or without Quintana. Right now, all five of their starters have made at least 10 starts, and all have an ERA+ of 108 or greater, and that’s without familiar veterans in Frankie Montas or Sean Manaea, as well as top prospects like Blade Tidwell, Nolan McLean, or Brandon Sproat making cameos. Quintana would have been nice, but absolutely unecessary in hindsight. Quintana was ranked as MLB TR’s 31st-best free agent this past offseason.