The New York Mets spent the offseason strengthening a roster that fell just two wins short of the 2024 World Series. Their biggest move was signing Juan Soto—not just the marquee acquisition of the offseason, but one of the most significant in franchise history. Additionally, they revamped their starting rotation.
However, before spring training even begins, the team is already dealing with injuries. Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea are both expected to miss Opening Day, but the Mets’ front office isn’t overly concerned. According to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, the team anticipates Manaea returning by late April and Montas sometime in the first half of the season. Because of this, they don’t plan to seek outside help for the rotation.
On Monday, the Mets shut down Manaea due to a right oblique strain, which is expected to sideline him for about two weeks. If his recovery stays on track, he could begin his return to the Majors by Opening Day. Montas, meanwhile, is dealing with a lat strain that will keep him out for roughly two months, potentially setting up a late May or early June return.
With both pitchers set to earn a combined $37 million in 2025 and signed through next year, the Mets are likely to be cautious in managing their recoveries.
Despite these early-season setbacks, the Mets have the depth to manage in the short term. Kodai Senga is expected to be fully healthy for 2025, while Clay Holmes and David Peterson are in line to step up.
Senga was dominant in his 2023 rookie campaign, posting a 2.98 ERA with 202 strikeouts over 166.1 innings, but his 2024 season was derailed by injuries. Holmes, a two-time All-Star with the Yankees, has shown flashes of brilliance but struggled with consistency, losing his closer role in 2024. Now, the Mets are transitioning him back into a starting role for the first time since his 2018 rookie season. Peterson, meanwhile, was impressive last season (10-3, 2.90 ERA) but has yet to put together back-to-back strong years in the Majors.
Beyond them, the Mets have additional rotation options, including Paul Blackburn, Griffin Canning, Tylor Megill, and Justin Hagenman. While they can patch things together early on, Montas and Manaea’s recoveries will be crucial if the team hopes to make another deep postseason run.
