3 pitchers traded at the MLB trade deadline who could be a Mets free agent match

3) Frankie Montas

Frankie Montas has a $20 million mutual option for next season that, unless the Milwaukee Brewers go against their better judgment, will get tossed in the trash. It’s a lot of money for a guy who hasn’t pitched great in 2024. His 4-8 record and 5.01 ERA with the Cincinnati Reds didn’t convince the Brewers to stray from making a trade. He has been better since, going 2-2 with a 3.92 ERA in his first 7 starts for the contending Brewers.

Montas would be a match for the Mets in the same scope as Severino and Manaea were. A teammate of Manaea’s in the past, perhaps we even see some linkage there if the crafty lefty returns to make an internal pitch to management about teaming up again. Manager Carlos Mendoza knows him from 9 starts he made as a member of the New York Yankees. Things didn’t go well there. Frankly, if he did make his way to Queens, we’d have our doubts.

What could we expect from Montas’ market? The Reds undoubtedly overpaid him with $16 million guaranteed. This includes the $2 million buyout for next season. Would the same exact total of $16 million on a one-year deal be worth it for the Mets? They successfully worked their magic on Manaea and Severino. Considering they’d want a six-man rotation to get the most out of Senga, they’ll have to explore all opportunities.

A sixth-place finish in the 2021 Cy Young race was a high point of his career. Montas will find it tough to find much more than a one-year offer this winter. If the Mets are open to another project they think they can save, he might be one to bring in—but only if he’s willing to take a pay cut.

Verdict: Only sign Frankie Montas if options deplete completely.