The partnership between the New York Mets and Veteran Playmaker had been mutually beneficial. For two seasons, the veteran left-hander provided dependable innings, while he enjoyed the perks of pitching for a well-funded team with playoff aspirations. It was a successful arrangement—until it wasn’t.
This offseason, the Mets took a different approach. Rather than re-signing Him, they pursued pitchers with greater upside, bringing in Clay Holmes and Frankie Montas while retaining Sean Manaea. On paper, the strategy made sense—they prioritized high-strikeout, dominant arms. Quintana, though consistent, doesn’t overwhelm hitters with velocity or punchouts like the others.
A Missed Opportunity?
Then came the injuries. Montas and Manaea landed on the sidelines, leaving the Mets scrambling for rotation depth. Speculation about a potential Quintana reunion surfaced, and the pitcher himself seemed open to it. However, the Mets had already moved on, choosing to rely on internal options instead of revisiting the veteran lefty.
Now, that possibility is off the table. According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, Quintana has signed a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, the defending NL Central champions.
The Rotation Without Him
Could the Mets have used Quintana? Without a doubt. Their current rotation now leans on Tylor Megill and Paul Blackburn—both capable arms, but neither as steady as Quintana, who posted a 3.57 ERA in 2023 and a 3.75 mark last season.
Still, the Mets are staying the course. Whether due to budget concerns or faith in young pitchers like Brandon Sproat and Blade Tidwell, who have impressed this spring, they are sticking to their plan and taking a calculated risk.