After a solid 2023 with a 4.48 ERA in 30 starts for the Reds and the Brewers and delivered 148 strikeouts across 150 2/3 innings, he, in 2024, transformed his performance in a two-year and 34 million dollars deal with the Mets. That deal also came with a player option for 2026.

The Mets added him to their roster with the hope of getting an elite middle-to-back-of-the-rotation starter. However, that hope quickly faded away as, “Frankie Montas has exercised his $17 million player option for 2026. He is expected to miss the entire season while he recovers from elbow surgery”.

Montas had been inconsistent since joining the team. He was unable to make his debut in this season until June because of his late strain. Montas also posted a 6.68 ERA in 7 starts and then he was moved to the bullpen.

After getting there, Frankie Montas made 2 more appearances for the Mets, then, in August, he was shut down due to a UCL injury in his right elbow. So, in those 9 appearances, he got a 6.28 ERA and allowed 11.2 hits per nine innings. Montas also surrendered 8 home runs, and in 38 ⅔ innings, he gave up 14 walks. His choice to exercise the player option was a part of the team’s roster moves announced on Tuesday.

Montas’ salary will definitely affect the Mets’ CBT threshold, which is why this news is bittersweet for fans; some are considering him the “Greatest heist” in the team’s history.

Now, fans have taken to social media to criticize the star for his decision.

Fans erupt as Montas Opt-In sparks outrage across the Mets universe

A fan summed up the mood best: “Greatest heist I’ve ever seen.” That reaction captured growing frustration toward Frankie Montas. Many see his large salary for a season he won’t play as daylight robbery. After only nine games since joining the team, fans’ patience has run out.

Another fan added, “$34 million for 9 appearances in two years. This is worse than the Jason Bay contract.” The comparison stings. Bay received $66 million over four seasons starting in 2010, but as Bleacher Report noted, “Bay has yet to eclipse 20 home runs and 80 RBI in a season as a Met… Instead, he has looked lost at the plate… and has endured the Citi Field boo birds.” Now, some say Montas has surpassed even Bay’s disappointment.

One supporter expressed the outrage more bluntly: “Frankie Montas elects to be paid more than most people will make in a lifetime not to work. Must be nice!” The anger isn’t just about performance but perception. A $17 million paycheck for no innings pitched feels like an insult to fans watching the team trim costs elsewhere. Since Steve Cohen bought the franchise in 2020, each Mets offseason has been unpredictable. With Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz nearing free agency, spending heavily on Montas has struck a nerve.

Others looked at the numbers. “Stearns will file a claim and get most of this covered by insurance… about $13.6M they could have to sign a replacement,” one fan noted. If the Mets recover 50% to 80% of Montas’ salary through insurance, they could regain around $14 million to fund another arm.

“Is he the worst ever acquisition for the Mets?” another fan asked. It’s a harsh take, but one gaining traction. Montas came with high expectations and delivered almost nothing. If he never pitches again for New York, his legacy seems sealed.

Montas was brought in to strengthen the Mets’ rotation, but his two-year stint has turned into a financial disaster. A $34 million deal has produced nine appearances, a year on the injured list, and now a guaranteed season out. Even if insurance softens the financial blow, the emotional damage among fans remains, casting a long shadow over the Mets’ offseason until management finds a real replacement.