The Mets have stumbled into their ugliest stretch of the season, and it’s not even close. A 2-8 record over their last ten games has transformed a shaky campaign into a full-blown crisis, shoving them five games behind the red-hot Phillies. And the timing couldn’t be worse. The trade deadline came and went without the reinforcements many fans had hoped for, leaving the roster thin and the options slimmer.

So, the air in Queens feels heavy now, thick with the unease of a season threatening to slip away. Every blown lead, every wasted scoring chance feels like another step toward irrelevance in the standings. And just as the alarm bells reach a deafening pitch, manager Carlos Mendoza reaches for a bitter dose of medicine. Yes, changes are coming to the Mets’ bullpen. It’s a bold move, maybe even a desperate one, and whether it will steady the ship or sink it further… only time will tell.

Well, Mendoza is thinking about swapping Frankie Montas out of the rotation and giving the spot to either Nolan McLean or Brandon Sproat! Yes, you heard that right. “He’s gonna go to the bullpen,” Mendoza said. “We had that conversation today. He’s going to throw a side, and the first day that he’ll be available is Thursday.”

Well, Frankie Montas, with a 6.38 ERA, hasn’t exactly been the boost the Mets were hoping for. The team signed the veteran right-hander to a two-year, $34 million deal back in December, but he didn’t make his first start until June 24 because of a lat strain. And since coming back, things haven’t gone smoothly, and now Montas is moving to the bullpen after eight rough outings.

So, that leaves a hole in the rotation, at least until Tylor Megill returns from the injured list. Hence, in the meantime, Mendoza says the Mets could dip into Triple-A for help, with Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat currently leading the list of options.

So, will the strategy work?

Reportedly, Montas was never exactly an ace, but he used to be a lot more reliable. Back with the A’s, the right-hander posted sub-4.00 ERAs in 2018, 2019, and 2021. He also highlighted a stellar 2.63 ERA over 16 starts in 2019. However, things went downhill after Oakland traded him to the Yankees in 2022.

While he had a solid 3.18 ERA in 19 starts for the A’s that year, but struggled badly in New York with a 6.35 ERA over eight starts. So, it is likely that the Mets would be able to replace the struggling pitcher. But still, time will tell how it goes.

Mets’ bullpen needs a boost

Well, it’s not about the struggle of Montas only, but the Mets’ bullpen also needs fresh air.

The Mets’ bullpen may not be in full meltdown mode, but the cracks are showing. With a 3.81 ERA, New York’s relievers sit 12th in MLB. A middle-of-the-pack number that hides just how shaky things have felt lately. Moreover, the group has struggled to lock down leads, with walks and poorly timed hits turning comfortable cushions into late-inning nail-biters.

And part of the problem is workload. With the rotation dealing with injuries and inconsistency, relievers have been leaned on heavily, often entering games earlier than they should. That constant grind has left some arms gassed by the time the dog days of summer hit.

So, while there have been bright spots, the overall picture is one of a unit that can’t quite find the shutdown edge it needs. For a Mets team trying to hang in the playoff race, shoring up the bullpen could be just as urgent as fixing the rotation. However, could Montas add any boost to the struggling bullpen?

Reportedly, Montas is entering uncharted territory—at least compared to the past seven years of his career. The veteran right-hander hasn’t worked regularly out of the bullpen since his rookie season with the Athletics in 2017. So, for Montas, the adjustment could be significant. Starters have the luxury of a set routine, days of rest, and time to mentally prepare for each outing.

Relievers, on the other hand, must be ready to pitch on short notice. Sometimes, on back-to-back days, while maintaining effectiveness in high-leverage situations. Let’s see how the man takes up the new challenge!