Slumping Mets demote struggling starter Frankie Montas to bullpen amid fight to stay in NL playoff race

Something needs to change for the fading New York Mets. 

On Tuesday, manager Carlos Mendoza announced that change is coming for the pitching staff. Starter Frankie Montas is moving to the bullpen amid struggles that have plagued him since he was called up in late June. 

Mendoza did not name Montas' replacement for his next scheduled start on Saturday against the Seattle Mariners. "It's possible" that the Mets call up a pitcher from Triple-A Syracuse to take his place, Mendoza said. 

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Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat, both 24, are among the potential prospects to get the call. McLean is the 37th-rated prospect in baseball, per MLB.com. Regardless of who's up, Montas' stint as a Mets starter is done.

"He's gonna go to the bullpen," Mendoza said. "We had that conversation today. He's going to throw his side, and the first day that he'll be available is Thursday."

Montas, 32, joined the Mets last offseason on a two-year, $34 million contract. The Mets signed Montas with the hopes that he could add depth to their starting rotation. Montas, who's been a full-time starter since his second MLB season in 2017, has show flashes of upside in his nine-plus season MLB career, but has repeatedly been derailed by injuries. 

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Montas sustained a lat injury in spring training after signing with the Mets and didn't make his 2025 debut until a June 24 start against the Atlanta Braves. Montas didn't allow a run in five innings that game, but has since complied a career-worst 6.38 ERA in eight appearances, seven of them starts. 

Montas made his first appearance out of the bullpen in Saturday's 7-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. He allowed three earned runs (one earned), three hits and issued two walks in three innings of relief. Now he'll remain in the bullpen. 

The Mets make the move amid a slump in which they've lost seven straight games and 11 of their last 12. They've fallen to 63-55, which placed them six games behind the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies prior to Tuesday's game against the Braves. 

New York remains in playoff position, but its hold on that position is tenuous. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Mets held a two-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds (62-58) for the final wild-card spot in the National League.