Last year I debated writing the Stats projection article for Rafael Montero because by the time I eventually got around to it in April, Montero already was sidelined by Tommy John surgery for the entire 2018 season.
Ultimately, Hansel Robles and Rafael Montero last year in January were tied together. They had snapshots with the major league team (the latter having more than the former) and were both kept on the roster in while other players (Josh Smoker) were cut. For Montero, the Mets needed starting pitching depth which they just didn’t have at the time. Montero in 2017 wasn’t 100% terrible. His terribleness would rotate. He would start, be great, give us hope and then come back out next week and flop.
2018 Projections: 90.6 IP, 5.19 ERA, 4.71 FIP, 1.564 WHIP, 72.5 K, 35.7 BB
That looks hella generous for playing time, but with a year passing since we’ve seen Montero on the mound, it’s easy to forget that he logged 119 innings in 2017. The 2018 Mets were bad, but that’s how bad the 2017 Mets were, 119 Montero innings!
Montero signed a minor league contract with the Rangers this off-season thus officially ending his time with the Mets. Good luck in Arlington!
