Mets SP Jose Quintana reportedly closed for 3 months, could return in All-Star break

The New York Mets will likely have to start their season without one of their new starting pitchers. The Mets are reportedly closing left-handed starter Jose Quintana for three months, according to The New York Post’s Mike Puma.

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Quintana only made two spring starts before the injury surfaced. He was removed from his last start on March 5 after suffering a strain in his left side and was diagnosed the next day with a small stress fracture in his fifth left rib. The injury saw him withdraw from the World Baseball Classic (where he was due to serve for Team Colombia), and as of Monday there was no update on his diagnosis or treatment history.

The Mets signed Quintana to a two-year, $26 million deal during the offseason as they attempted to add a mid-rotation starter to their pitcher arsenal. He has a career 3.75 ERA over 11 seasons, which is very good considering that number includes some less-than-great stints with the Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, and Chicago Cubs. He started the 2022 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates but was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals midway through the season. Quintana finished the 2022 season with a 2.01 ERA over 12 starts (62.2 innings) for the Redbirds.

If Quintana’s rehab goes according to plan, it’s possible he could be back on the rotation around the All-Star break. Who will replace Quintana, the only left-hander in the rotation, the Mets are reportedly looking at internal options RHP Tylor Megill and LHP David Peterson.