1 Mets player who shoots up the depth chart with Jose Quintana injured

The New York Mets put together a rotation with the potential to be the best in the entire league. However, the NY Post reports that Jose Quintana will be shut down for at least three months after being diagnosed with a stress fracture on the fifth rib on his left side. Billy Eppler has since called the report "premature" but has not denied it.

Quintana, who came to the team this offseason after signing a two-year, $26 million contract, could begin to see action around the All-Star break. This causes the team to evaluate its depth options quite early, also opening the way for a young pitcher with potential.

Mets prospect José Butto could be a viable option down the stretch

The young Mets pitcher, who would turn 26 in a few days, already has a brief big league experience pitching against the Phillies last year at Citizens Bank Park allowing seven runs in four innings. That was a bit of a traumatic experience for a major league debut for José Butto but no need to overreact to this performance.

Butto is the #15 prospect in the organization. He has a fastball that sits around 92-94 mph, sometimes touching 96 mph. His speed is above average as is his fastball spin rate. However, the most relevant pitch in his repertoire is the changeup that combined with his fastball easily fools hitters. Butto currently has the best changeup of any pitcher in the Mets' farm system.

So far in spring training, Butto has shown good numbers and control of the game, striking out seven in 3.2 innings pitched allowing two walks and two earned runs. One relevant aspect is that the opposition is barely hitting him for .154.

José Butto has the arsenal to contribute quickly in the season with the loss of José Quintana for an extended period. A team that has options like David Peterson or Tylor Megill to fill a rotation spot can use an arm with Butto's potential as a long reliever or swingman moving forward.