Frankie Montas injury might've unlocked a bolder NY Mets roster move by September

With Frankie Montas out for the year, the Mets sound ready to make a bolder, in-demand roster move.
2025 MLB All-Star Week: Futures Game
2025 MLB All-Star Week: Futures Game | Jamie Squire/GettyImages

Frankie Montas’ season-ending injury and potential end to his New York Mets tenure caught us all off-guard. We figured he probably wasn’t feeling his best based on the results. The team’s lack of usage of him on Friday was the first hint that maybe something wasn’t right.

As a result of losing Montas, the Mets have new roster moves to consider. Huascar Brazoban replaced him on the roster as their new long man. Far bolder would be the promotion of another youngster to follow in the footsteps of Nolan McLean.

Brandon Sproat is the obvious player to promote. What about Jonah Tong? A longshot to make it to the majors based on the way David Stearns has behaved, it’s now a real possibility thanks to some changing weather.

Jonah Tong is apparently in play to join the Mets this season

Tong must’ve been following Mike Puma on Twitter because he furthered his case for a big league promotion on Saturday night. Tong tossed 6 shutout innings and struck out another 8 batters while walking 1. He has now thrown 11.2 scoreless innings in Triple-A, showing no signs of slowing down.

The Mets aren’t calling up Tong just yet, even opting to use Kodai Senga on normal 4 days rest on Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies rather than summon Sproat or even utilize someone less exciting. The important thing the Mets need to do is add Tong to the 40-man roster before August is through, ensuring he’d be postseason eligible. There is no reason not to with Tong showing clear signs he’ll be competing for regular innings to start the 2026 season regardless of how this season goes.

Fans have exhaustively waited for the next wave of young players to join the major league squad. Nolan McLean’s success through two starts only further confirms the more optimistic outcome of what calling up Tong could provide the team. For a ball club where all of the bullpen pieces in the minors on the 40-man roster are journeymen at 28 or over, they wouldn’t be hurting themselves a whole lot by dismissing a few in favor of taking the precaution of having Tong present even if we have to wait a little longer to see him actually play in a major league game.