Much of what the Mets built in their rotation last year, they built on prove-it deals. Rather than invest in big-name free agents at the tops of their games, the Mets added Luis Severino and Sean Manaea,

To that point, by the measure of ERA+, which takes into account ballpark and other league factors, Montas has been a below-average starter in recent years. His last above-average season was 2022 in Oakland, when his 116 ERA+ was above the league-average 100.

Frankie Montas went 7-11 with a 4.84 ERA and 148 strikeouts in 150.2 innings over 30 starts last season for the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers.