In a move that shouldn't be surprising to anyone who covers the New York Mets, starter Frankie Montas has decided to exercise his $17 million contract option ahead of free agency.
Hot stove season is here, and with MLB's free agency period set to open this week, players across the league are making contract decisions to avoid free agency. For Montas, this is a no-brainer because of how injured he was this season. His worth isn't $17 million per season at this juncture.
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After a 2024 campaign where Frankie Montas made 30 starts, the New York Mets decided to buy high on the right-handed starter and signed him to a two-year, $34 million deal last offseason.
Montas battled injuries most of 2025 and is expected to miss all of the 2026 season as well. The 32-year-old starter made just seven starts this season to the tune of a 6.28 ERA over 38.2 innings.
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The Mets announced in August that Montas would be shut down for the season with an elbow injury, and then he received Tommy John Surgery.
Picking up the $17 million option was the obvious option for Montas, as he will essentially be getting paid handsomely just to rehab for the entirety of next season.
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