The New York Mets designated pitcher Frankie Montas for assignment before his final year of a two-year, $34 million contract, primarily due to his ongoing injury issues and poor performance. Montas, who underwent Tommy John surgery at the end of the previous season, was expected to miss all of 2026. He pitched only nine games for the Mets, posting a high ERA of 6.28 across 38⅔ innings, after returning from a lat strain and subsequent elbow injury that required UCL surgery. The Mets will pay him $17 million in 2026, but he will not rehab with the team. The move clears a roster spot for outfield prospect Nick Morabito, a speedy 22-year-old who hit .273 with six homers and 49 stolen bases in Double-A, and impressed in the Arizona Fall League. Montas's tenure with the Mets was marked by injuries and underperformance, mirroring his troubled stint with the Yankees. The team’s decision is seen as a cost-cutting move, as Montas was a costly gamble that did not pay off, and he is unlikely to secure a new major league deal until next offseason. Morabito’s selection aims to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft and bolster the Mets’ outfield depth.