The New York Mets have suffered significant setbacks in their pitching rotation, losing two of their top offseason acquisitions in just a few days.
Last week, the Mets announced that starter Frankie Montas, who signed a two-year, $34 million contract, would be shut down due to a high-grade lat strain. Montas will be sidelined for six to eight weeks, followed by another six weeks to get back into pitching shape. As a result, he likely won’t return to the rotation until late May.
Now, the Mets have lost a second starter, with Sean Manaea also set to miss Opening Day due to a right oblique strain. Manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters, including Will Sammon of The Athletic, that the Mets view Manaea’s injury as short-term and expect him to return sometime in April. However, oblique injuries are often unpredictable, and the timeline remains uncertain.
New York Mets starter Sean Manaea out with oblique strain
Manaea was a key contributor to the Mets’ playoff run in 2023, becoming one of their top starters with a 3.47 ERA over 32 starts. He struck out 184 batters in 181 2/3 innings and posted a 1.084 WHIP and 3.83 FIP.
With both Montas and Manaea now out, the Mets are down a combined $109 million in starting pitchers. Their current rotation consists of Kodai Senga, David Peterson, and offseason signing Clay Holmes. Tylor Megill, Griffin Canning, and Paul Blackburn provide additional depth for the team.
