The New York Mets will have to start their season without their new starting pitcher. According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Mets are reportedly Left-handed starter José Quintana was shut down for three months.
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Quintana made just two spring starts before suffering an injury. He was benched from his final start on March 5 after experiencing left side tightness, and was diagnosed with a small stress fracture in his fifth left rib the next day. The injury ruled him out of the World Baseball Classic (where he was supposed to pitch for Team Colombia), and as of Monday there had been no update on his diagnosis or treatment.
The Mets signed Quintana to a two-year, $26 million contract during the offseason as they attempted to add a middle-rotation starter to their pitcher’s arsenal. He has a career 3.75 ERA over 11 seasons, which is pretty good when you consider that number includes some less-than-great stints with the Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, and Chicago Cubs. He began the 2022 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but was traded via the St. Louis Cardinals. Quintana finished the 2022 season with a 2.01 ERA in 12 starts (62.2 innings) for the Redbirds.
If Quintana’s rehab goes according to plan, it’s possible he could be back in the rotation around the All-Star break. As for who will replace Quintana, the only left-hander in the rotation, the Mets are reportedly looking at internal options RHP Tyler Magill and LHP David Peterson.