The executives and scouts who spoke to SNY reiterated multiple times the Mets’ need for more reliability, with one saying they need “two more quality starters” on top of Montas, who posted a 4.84 ERA in 150 2/3 innings 30 starts, his first full season after missing most of 2023 after shoulder surgery.

But with a two-year, $34 million agreement with Frankie Montas, the David Stearns Mets are forming a pattern on how they view free-agent starters — think short-term deals with upside — which is why they have inquired on Walker Buehler, among others.