The New York Mets made waves Wednesday night by landing Freddy Peralta in a blockbuster trade, but their work on the pitching staff may not be finished. Peralta immediately steps in as the clear front man of the rotation, giving the Mets a true ace to build around. Behind him, the club has a mix of established arms and developing talent that offers both upside and uncertainty.
Sean Manaea, Clay Holmes, David Peterson, and Kodai Senga provide varying levels of experience, while younger options such as Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong represent long term bets for the organization. There is legitimate optimism surrounding the group, especially if Senga can return to his pre injury form and if McLean evolves into the impact starter the Mets believe he can be. Manaea will be aiming for a rebound season, and Holmes showed encouraging signs during his first full year as a starter.
Even with that potential, the Mets still have room to reinforce the rotation with a steady, lower risk addition. According to MLB insider Hector Gómez, New York has interest in veteran left hander Jose Quintana. Quintana is a familiar name for Mets fans, having already spent two seasons with the club before joining the Milwaukee Brewers last year.
During his previous stint in Queens, Quintana posted a 3.70 ERA across 44 starts, providing reliable innings and consistency. He followed that up with a 3.96 ERA in 24 starts for Milwaukee last season. Known for inducing ground balls, Quintana could be a strong fit for a Mets team that has emphasized defense and run prevention this offseason.
As a proven veteran, Quintana would likely slide comfortably into the middle of the rotation. He brings experience, durability, and stability, and he would probably require only a one year commitment, making him a sensible and flexible option as the Mets continue shaping their pitching staff.