Acce s the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. PORT ST. LUCIE Frankie Montas triceps sorene s following his first bullpen se sion last week has turned into a rotation vacancy for the Mets to begin the season. The right-hander is dealing with a high-grade lat strain, manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday, and has been shut down from throwing for 6-8 weeks. Once Montas begins throwing again he will need a full spring training buildup, meaning in a best-case scenario he wont return to the Mets until at least mid-May. The 34-year-old Montas returned to New York, where he was scheduled to receive a platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection. Mendoza isnt backing off his plan to utilize a six-man rotation, leaving Tylor Megill and Paul Blackburn among the primary internal options to replace Montas. Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, , David Peterson and Griffin Canning are the projected top five with Montas sidelined. Frankie Montas signs autographs for fans on Feb. 13. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Explore More Montas, who arrived over the winter on a two-year deal worth $34 million that contains an opt-out after the first season, dealt with a shoulder injury that limited him to one appearance for the Yankees in 2023. He returned to start 30 games last season for the Reds and Brewers and pitched to a 4.71 ERA over 150 / innings. Mendoza said hes pretty confident in the clubs depth options to replace Montas in the rotation. Theres a reason why they are here, Mendoza said. We know that over the course Steward Berroa Jersey of 162-plus [games,] we are going to need 8-10 guys. Its nothing new for us. Guys will step up, guys will get opportunities and we feel good with the options that we have. Frankie Montas signed a two-year, $34 million deal this offseason. Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Jose Quintana, who spent the past two seasons with the Mets, is among the top pitchers remaining in free agency. The Mets also could still try to reignite talks with the Padres for a trade that would bring Dylan Cease to Queens. See Also beyond the back page There hasnt been any thought, according to Mendoza, of moving Jose Butt into the starting rotation. Butt began last season as a starter before thriving as a reliever in the second half. The Mets want to keep the right-hander in a multi-inning relief role, at least at this point. Spring training injuries to pitchers arent unusual. Last season the Mets lost Senga to a shoulder strain early in camp, and he didnt pitch for the team until July. A year earlier Quintana had rib surgery in spring training that sidelined him for the first half of the season. In 2022, the Mets lost Jacob deGrom in spring training to elbow discomfort. He also mi sed the first half of the season. Megill has been a valuable replacement starter during much of that stretch. New York Mets pitcher Tylor Megill (38) greets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner after throwing live batting practice at Spring Training, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in Port St. Lucie, FL. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST The right-hander rebounded from a shaky first half last season and was strong during the stretch run, pitching to a 2.32 ERA in his final six starts for the club. The pitch count was way lower, Megill said last week. Finishing up the fifth and then being able to go into the sixth and finish the sixth inning. That has always been my problem, the fifth and sixth innings. When I came back, the fifth and sixth innings were completely different. Blackburn, who arrived from the As at last years trade deadline, is returning from cerebralspinal fluid leak repair surgery that was performed in October. Were building him up to be a starter, so well see where we are at the end of camp, Mendoza said. It all depends. But as of right now everything is progre sing in the right direction. Our goal is to have him, just like the other guys. Chad Green Jersey
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