A few injuries have already hit the Mets pitching staff three weeks into spring training. Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea will likely be on the injured list to start the 2025 season. Could the Mets be in play to sign free-agent pitcher Jose Quintana? 

Montas and Manaea were free agents picked up during the 2024/2025 off-season, except that Manaea is returning to the Mets after an incredible 2024 campaign. Manaea’s 12-6 win/loss record and 3.47 earned run average (ERA) and his 2-1 record 4.74 ERA during the 2024 playoffs earned him a three year, $75 million deal to come back to the Mets. Fresh off his new deal, Manaea suffered an oblique injury. A typical timeline for an oblique injury could last 1-2 months. How long Manaea’s injury will delay him from the 2025 season is the question.

Frankie Montas’s career as a New York Met will be delayed as he sustained a lat strain injury. According to Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, Montas will be shut down between 6-8 weeks before beginning baseball activities. Montas, signed with the Mets on a two year, $34 million deal, was a free agent pickup who spent time during the 2024 season with the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers at the trade deadline. Montas struggled during his short tenure with the Reds. Montas owned a 4-8 win/loss record in nineteen starts. His nineteen starts with the Reds accumulated a 5.01 earned run average (ERA). Montas was then traded to Milwaukee at the trade deadline and left Cincinnati with the hope of revamping his season. Unfortunately, Montas continued his struggles. Montas made eleven starts and owned a 3-3 win/loss record, which resulted in a 4.55 ERA. Montas is looking forward to leaving the 2024 season behind him and looking forward to a fresh start in Queens for the 2025 season. 

Jose Quintana is still available on the free agent market. Quintana spent his last two seasons with the Mets. His 2024 season was more memorable than his 2023 season. In 31 games started during his 2024 season, he held a 10-10 win/loss record and a 3.75 ERA. Quintana’s most memorable start during the 2024 season came in Game 4 of the National League Division Series (NLDS) against the Philadelphia Phillies. Quintana pitched five innings on 90 pitches, striking out six, giving up only two hits en route to the Mets series, clinching a win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Quintana is participating in the World Baseball Classic qualifiers for his native team Colombia but was just taken off of the roster. Now that two starters are on the injured list (IL), could the Mets be pushing to bring back Quintana?