The Philadelphia Phillies offseason didn't exactly provide the shock and awe many fans expected after the Phillies were eliminated in quick fashion by the rival New York Mets in the NLDS last October. While the Phillies were far more active this winter than the previous one, adding outfielder Max Kepler, All-Star closer Jordan Romano and right-handed pitcher Joe Ross via free agency, and trading for left-handed starter Jesús Luzardo, the rival Mets added some big names to a ball club that looks ready to challenge the Phillies and Atlanta Braves for the NL East crown once again this season.
The Mets' biggest move by far this winter was adding free agent outfielder Juan Soto on an MLB record 15-year, $765 million deal in December. While conversations were slow to develop, the Mets re-signed franchise staple first baseman Pete Alonso to a two-year $54 million pact in early February and, in the process, added some much-needed thump to the top of the lineup.
While the Mets will certainly have a lineup that stacks up with some of the best in MLB in 2025, the team's approach to adding starting pitching was a little more reserved. The Mets re-signed left-handed starter Sean Manaea to a three-year $75-million deal in December, signed former Yankees closer Clay Holmes with the intent of converting him into a starting pitcher, and added right-handed starter Frankie Montas on a two-year $34-million pact late last year.
While the Mets rotation looks stronger on paper, the health of one of their starters has already become a cause for concern just a week into spring training, and the news could affect the Mets to begin the season.
Frankie Montas injury could have ripple effect in early NL East race
The Mets knew that signing Frankie Montas carried considerable risk after the right-hander missed the entire 2023 season after undergoing shoulder surgery. Last season, while splitting time between the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers, he made 30 starts while pitching to a less-than-savory 7-11 record with a 4.84 ERA and a 1.367 WHIP.
A bounce-back performance in 2025 was what the Mets were banking on when they signed Montas, but after news broke on Tuesday that Montas suffered a high-grade lat strain, it looks all the more likely that the Mets' rotation will begin the season short-handed once again,
While speaking to assembled media, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza announced that Montas will miss the next 6-8 weeks while recovering from the lat strain. The team sent the right-hander to New York City to receive a platelet-rich plasma injection in order to speed up the healing process. While the current outlook on Montas remains positive, his health struggles and poor performance in recent years certainly come with plenty of question marks heading into 2025.
With the Phillies currently featuring one of the best rotations in baseball, injuries to key players on rival teams like the Mets should give the Phillies a nice advantage heading into Opening Day. With Braves' ace Spencer Strider's elbow health still unknown, and the Braves' rotation a little weaker after losing right-handed starter Max Fried to the New York Yankees in free agency, there's a good chance the Phillies could take advantage of these other teams' health setbacks once again this April.