Exciting news! The Mets have pulled off a blockbuster deal, securing a highly sought-after player to supercharge their squad depth! to a two-year, $34 million contract.

The Mets have made a major move this offseason by signing right-handed pitcher [Player’s Name] to a two-year, $ 34 million deal, which includes an opt-out after the 2025 season—similar to the contract Sean Manaea signed last year.

At 31 years old, this pitcher has had an eventful career in Major League Baseball. He was originally signed by the Red Sox in 2009 as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic and was later traded to the White Sox in 2013 as part of a three-team deal involving the Tigers. He made his MLB debut in 2015 but soon found himself traded to the Dodgers in a deal involving Todd Frazier. His time in Los Angeles was short-lived, leading to another trade to Oakland in 2016, where he was exchanged for Josh Reddick and Rich Hill.

After a rocky start, he finally hit his stride with Oakland, delivering around 160 solid innings in 2018 and 2019, despite some injury setbacks. He remained a reliable option until 2022 when he was traded to the Yankees. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury limited his effectiveness in New York, resulting in limited appearances. After pitching just four outs in 2023, he signed a one-year contract with the Reds for 2024 but was traded to the Brewers during the season.

Montas’s career has been characterized by ups and downs, along with injury issues. His performance in 2024 was disappointing, as he posted a 4.84 ERA and a 4.71 FIP, primarily due to problems with walks and home runs. However, he showed signs of progress after being traded to Milwaukee, where his ERA improved and his strikeout rate increased as he adjusted his pitch selection, emphasizing his sinker and significantly enhancing the whiff rate on his slider. For more insights into Montas’s adjustments, check out a Twitter thread by Isaac Groffman.

This signing is essentially a bet on the Mets’ ability to build off Montas’s late-season gains. If things don’t pan out due to injury or subpar performance, the financial risk is relatively low by current standards. However, if Montas can return to form, he could become a valuable asset in the middle of the rotation, similar to what they achieved with Manaea last season.