5 upcoming Mets free agents helping their offseason stock with a strong September

3) Jose Quintana

Let’s finish off the praise with one more starting pitcher. Leftover from the Billy Eppler era, Jose Quintana’s two-year deal expires at the end of the 2024 season. Maybe not someone too many fans would line up to bring back, he has lowered his ERA on the year down to 3.74 due in large part to three very good September starts.

It doesn’t get much better than what Quintana has done this month. A perfect 3-0 with zero runs allowed (earned or unearned), he has gotten hot at the exact right time. Previously viewed as someone who’d be on the “outs” of a potential postseason start and maybe even left off the roster entirely, his sudden surge and experience should have the Mets at least weighing him as an option.

Quintana remains a high-contact pitcher, striking out only 14 batters in 20.2 innings. However, with 10 hits, he has managed to accumulate a 0.68 WHIP this month. That’s the kind of number you’d expect from a high-leverage reliever.

Through some turbulent times this season, Quintana appears to have come back to his best this month. Was it the added pressure of free agency? Nah. This guy has been too good, too often for what we saw in August and a few other times this season to be the reality. He won’t get a long multi-year contract because of his age. Quintana will, instead, get something close to what the Mets gave him during his last trip into free agency. Don’t forget to adjust for inflation.