Rehabbing NY Mets pitcher inspires confidence, unlike Frankie Montas

All we heard during Frankie Montas' rehab start was how he was going to be a bad signing for the New York Mets. With how he performed in his rehab starts, it looked like his best days were behind him and he'd be yet another free agency bust. In 18 2/3 innings of rehab, he had a 12.05 ERA, with 12 strikeouts, 10 walks, and a 2.04 WHIP. These are numbers that should raise concern, regardless of a player's previous performance.

As of right now, the book is still out on whether the fans' concerns were warranted or not. Through two starts for the Mets, Montas has looked like two different pitchers. In his debut, he pitched five strong shutout innings against the rival Braves. However, in his most recent outing against the Pirates, he barely made it through four innings, conceding six runs. Montas figured out that he was tipping his pitches, and while he believes that it's the reason for his struggles, only time will tell.

However, while Montas' rehab left fans concerned, Brooks Raley's performance during his rehab should inspire a lot of confidence. In his five rehab appearances, Raley has yet to surrender a run in 5 2/3 innings with 10 strikeouts, three walks, and a .75 WHIP. He's also held opponents to a .139 batting average. If he can carry this success to the big leagues, he could be the answer to one of the Mets' most pressing needs.

How Brooks Raley could alter the Mets deadline approach

If there is one thing the Mets' recent struggles have made clear, it's that the bullpen needs an upgrade. After a strong start to the season, it has become the team's Achilles' heel. Since the start of May, the Mets' bullpen has a combined ERA of 6.43. Although David Stearns and the front office have made numerous transactions to address the issue, the problem has not been resolved so far. It's become clear that the biggest team at the deadline is an elite bullpen arm.

Raley is no stranger to Mets fans, having spent the 2023, and the start of the 2024 season with New York. During his time in Queens, he's pitched to a 2.48 ERA over 61 2/3 innings with 70 strikeouts, 28 walks, a 1.200 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 168. Before going down with Tommy John suregry in 2024 he was red hot allowing only five base runner in seven innings. It's clear that Raley has the ability to be a high leverage reliever.

If Raley can be the lockdown middle reliever the Mets need, it will change the Mets' deadline strategy. An elite reliever will not be something the Mets are in desperate need of. While they'll likely still get bullpen help, it does not have to be the primary goal. They could turn their attention to other areas, such as acquiring a centerfielder or addressing starting pitching depth. They will also have some leverage when discussing trades for relievers.

While it may not be the name everyone was expecting, Raley has a chance to make a significant impact on the 2025 season.