The New York Mets signed Clay Holmes and Frankie Montas this winter to help their starting rotation. However, according to Newsday’s Tim Healey, Montas will be shut down for six to eight weeks.

“Frankie Montas has a high-grade right lat strain, Carlos Mendoza said,” Healey wrote on X. “He won’t throw for 6-8 weeks. He’s going to New York for a PRP injection now.”

Montas signed a two-year, $34 million deal with a player option after the season. However, with opening day out of the cards for Montas, the Mets could have the push they need to trade for Dylan Cease of the San Diego Padres.

Cease is a trade candidate as he will be a free agent after the season and is projected to earn a five-year, $108 million deal in free agency.

Cease would be able to step in as an ace for the Mets. He was runner-up in the American League Cy Young Award voting in 2022. Last season he was fourth in National League Cy Young Award voting.

Cease had a 3.47 ERA and 224 strikeouts last season. He has made 30-plus starts in each of the last four seasons. He has notched over 200 strikeouts in each of those seasons as well. He has a 3.40 ERA over the last three seasons.

Adding Cease would not only give the Mets an option while Montas is hurt but also set them up for success when he’s back. The Mets have a star-studded offense led by Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso. Their pitching needs to be just as strong if they want to get past the Los Angeles Dodgers and reach the World Series.

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