How fallen NY Mets pitcher Frankie Montas can redeem himself

Fair or not, Paul Blackburn never had a full chance to redeem himself in a New York Mets uniform. The veteran starter with a track record of getting hurt lived up to the promise of joining the walking wounded when he was placed on the IL shortly after arriving in New York last season, again right before the 2025 season began, and once more after just a handful of appearances. Always meant to be nothing more than a depth piece, the Mets tendered him a deal that they never found much use for. He finished up his tenure in Queens throwing 5 innings of relief. As useful as it was, the demotion of Frankie Montas to the bullpen disallowed any logic to have both around.

Montas’ contract is the reason why he was always getting the roster spot. A $17 million deal this year with a player option of the same for next season meant it would take a disaster of apocalyptic proportions to see him cut. We’re only at the stage of arctic winter with him.

Is it over for Montas? A dissatisfying relief appearance (not including the one where the Mets used an opener in front of him) had Montas on the wrong trajectory. Fans could’ve predicted this. His 3 hits allowed, 2 walks, 0 strikeouts, and run charged to him in only 2 innings was not pleasant, but maybe things get better?

If Frankie Montas can become a halfway multi-inning reliever, he redeems himself for 2025

The Mets shouldn’t even think about moving Montas back to the rotation for anything short of being the bulk guy in a bullpen game as gross as those feel. A future plan of having him in the rotation for 2026 doesn’t feel like the best outcome given how he’d likely request a trade. It feels like the Jordan Montgomery situation with the Arizona Diamondbacks but just not as ugly with ownership criticizing him. Steve Cohen knows better.

In the interim, the Mets could actually use a strong presence in the bullpen capable of getting them 6 or 9 outs. Montas’ season splits don’t suggest any ideal way or time to use him. He’s in a mop-up role at the moment, perhaps the last line of defense in an extra inning game where Carlos Mendoza doesn’t have enough arms to survive the night.

Montas was the victim of some bad performances in the first inning of games, owning a 6.43 ERA in that frame along with a .333 batting average against him. It’s not necessarily a first inning thing but a situation where it’s his first inning. It also doesn’t help that hitters one through three are all batting over .300 against him this season. He has surprisingly done well against the middle of the order with the biggest menace of all being the number 9 hitter. They’ve hit .533 against him.

Raking in $17 million this season won’t have the payroll department satisfied with Montas even if he does pitch well in relief. It’s a bad contract sliced triangularly, squarely, or like a gingerbread man. Accepting he’s going to remain with the team in a limited capacity, the best we can hope for is for Montas to take on a role similar to the one Huascar Brazoban and Max Kranick had early in 2025. At worst, maybe he saves the ball club from utilizing the more effective relievers.