Frankie Montas communicated with two members of the Mets’ pitching staff from last season after the team began showing interest in him as a free agent.
Frankie Montas communicated with two members of the Mets’ pitching staff from last season after the team began showing interest in him as a free agent.
Sean Manaea and Luis Severino, according to Montas, provided strong reviews of the organization and the potential for improvement under the guidance of the Mets staff.
“The way they do stuff, the way they prepare guys, the way they help with your recovery — all the resources they have to improve your game,” Montas said Friday on a Zoom call after last week agreeing to a two-year contract with the Mets worth $34 million that contains an opt-out after the first season. “I’m definitely excited for next year and see how they can improve my game.”
Montas, 31, split last season with the Reds and Brewers, pitching to a 4.84 ERA in 30 starts.
The right-hander logged 150 ²/₃ innings in which he struck out 148 batters.
Manaea (a free agent whom Montas called one of his best friends from their days pitching together with the A’s) and Severino (who agreed to a three-year deal worth $67 million with the A’s this week) were two such low-risk, high-reward options the Mets added last winter who yielded significant returns.
