The New York Mets have had a cavalcade of pitching injuries during spring training. Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas both signed deals to join the Amazins this winter and may miss Opening Day. With starting depth already a concern, they had to make a move for an extra arm. The Mets signed Jose Urena as a non-roster invitee on Thursday, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
“Jose Urena to Mets. Non-roster invite. In Majors $2M plus $750K [performance bonuses],” Heyman reported.
Urena has pitched ten seasons across seven different teams, primarily as a starter. Of his 232 appearances, 152 of them have been starts but last year, he was mostly a reliever. It was a solid year with the Texas Rangers, making nine starts in 33 total appearances with a 3.80 ERA.
With Manaea and Montas potentially out for Opening Day, the Mets’ depth will be tested early. Kodai Senga and David Peterson will take the top two spots, followed by converted closer Clay Holmes and journeyman Griffin Canning. Urena helps them take some pressure off top prospects, Brandon Sproat and Christian Scott.
The Mets did get great news on the pitching injury front this week as Paul Blackburn made his spring training debut. He missed the playoffs because of a spinal injury but set the Marlins down in order on Wednesday. If Blackburn can be a mid-rotation starter, their depth will be great by the time Manaea and Montas get back.
There is no word on when Urena will get to Port St Lucie or when he will debut with the Mets. If he makes the big-league roster, it will be a great signing by David Stearns at the last minute. But the signing may be proven irrelevant if either Montas or Manaea comes back by the end of spring.
- Ureña’s career record stands at 44-77 with a 4.76 ERA across multiple MLB teams.
- Last season, Ureña had a 3.80 ERA with 24 of his 33 appearances out of the bullpen.
- His deal includes a base salary of $2 million and potential performance incentives totaling $750,000.
State of Play
- Frankie Montas is out until at least June, while Sean Manaea is expected to return by mid-April.
- Ureña’s addition provides immediate depth as the Mets assess their starting lineup.
- Fans are actively voicing their disappointment and calling for Quintana on social media platforms.
What’s NextAs spring training approaches, the Mets will need to evaluate Ureña’s performance while keeping an eye on the recovery timelines of Montas and Manaea. With fan trust in the management waning, addressing these concerns will be crucial to maintain support as the season unfolds.
Bottom LineThe Mets’ decision to sign Ureña instead of Quintana highlights the team’s urgent strategy in addressing their pitching woes. However, the backlash from fans showcases a disconnect between management decisions and fan expectations, signaling that future moves must better align with public sentiment to retain overall support.
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