The Mets were preparing to make a major international splash. Their top target from the 2026 class had everything—tools, hype and a verbal commitment that had scouts buzzing. However, what was a done deal quickly became damage control.

Just days before the agreement was set to become official, a shocking discovery forced the team to act quickly. What unfolded after that was not just a setback for one star—it highlighted a larger issue that continues to plague international recruiting across MLB.

The face behind all this is the Dominican third baseman Josué Chacoa. He had emerged as the Mets’ top target for the 2026 international signing class with a deal worth over $2 million. However, just as the buzz reached its peak, it all collapsed. “Mets top international prospect loses $2M deal after caught faking his age,” read a now-viral post from New York Mets News on Instagram.

As per the Mets Prospect Group, the team canceled its verbal agreement with the star after discovering the situation. Such issues are not new for the MLB and that is why the MLB mandates a one-year suspension for stars engaged in age fraud—a serious setback, specifically, for someone at the doorstep of signing life-changing money. For Chacoa, it is not just a lost deal; it is a lost year.

That decision, while tough, was rooted in caution. The Padres, who had verbally committed nearly $4 million to Cesar Altagracia, pulled the plug after MLB identified a discrepancy. Altagracia was five years older than claimed. Having already invested resources, the team still opted to walk away.

What makes this more than just a failed deal is what it reveals. The force on young stars to stand out is immense. In such a race, some cross the line. Chacoa was already in advanced negotiations, but, now, the 17-year-old’s reputation hangs in limbo.

However, just as the team scrambles to clean up international scouting concerns, another headache is unfolding on the field.

Frankie Montas’ struggles add fuel to Mets mounting rotation issues

When the Mets signed Frankie Montas, the hope was that he would carry veteran stability to a rotation already going through depth issues. However, so far, that bet has not come close to paying off. After six rehab starts, the star owns a bruising 12.05 ERA with a WHIP north of 2.14, enabling seven hits and five earned runs in Montas’s current outing with Triple-A Syracuse. It is a brutal stat line for a star just days away from reaching the maximum 30-day rehab window.

The timing could not be worse. Kodai Senga and Taylor Megill are already sidelined. Then, with Sean Manaea also on the slow mend, the team is running with a four-man rotation and zero margin for error. Manager Carlos Mendoza has ruled out a bullpen game for Friday’s series opener against the Phillies, which says the Mets could be forced to tap Justin Hagenman and Blade Tidwell—two untested stars on the 40-man roster—just to patch a one-day gap. Had Montas looked more remotely serviceable, he would likely be in line for a Monday beginning. Now, that also looks like a gamble.

From international scandals to rotation setbacks, the team identifies itself as juggling chaos on multiple fronts. The fallout from Chacoa’s deception and Montas’ collapse in rehab highlight a larger issue—fragile systems and risky bets. As the Mets scramble to stay competitive in the NL East, the margin for error is vanishing quickly.

`