Stay or Go: Should Mets re-sign Jose Quintana?

Since signing with the Mets on a two-year, $26 million deal prior to the 2023 season, Jose Quintana has been exactly as advertised, providing a steady veteran presence in the rotation.

Owning a career ERA of 3.74 over the course of his 13-year big league career, Quintana has actually been slightly better than his career numbers while in a Mets uniform, pitching to a 3.70 ERA in 44 regular season starts. And while his 2023 season was limited to just 13 outings due to injury, Quintana took the ball 31 times this past season, including on Opening Day against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Like Sean Manaea and Luis Severino, Quintana is about to hit the free agent market. Should the Mets bring him back? Let’s take a look…

Why it could make sense to let Quintana go

One of the biggest factors to take into account with Quintana is his age. With the lefty turning 36 in January, it’s fair to wonder exactly how much he has left in the tank. Since his age-30 season in 2019, Quintana has been consistent, but not spectacular, pitching to a 4.04 ERA with a 1.33 WHIP.

Quintana is a different pitcher now than he was In his prime, focusing on hitting the corners rather than sheer velocity and stuff, but his nibbling can sometimes get him in trouble. He walked 3.3 batters per nine innings in 2024, his highest total in that category in a full season since 2018 (3.5). Walks killed the Mets’ pitching staff in 2024, and the club would do well to try to cut down on that number.

The Mets could also decide to let Quintana walk if they choose to allocate dollars elsewhere in the rotation. If the Mets are set on bringing Manaea back, it won’t be cheap. Same for Severino. Add in the fact the Mets could be the highest bidder for Juan Soto and potentially could be bringing back Pete Alonso, and the idea of re-signing an older pitcher could look less attractive.

Why it could make sense to keep Quintana

At this point in his career, Quintana could be looking at signing a one-year deal, and if the money is right, his contract wouldn’t really hamper the Mets when it comes to their other offseason pursuits.

Plus, the Mets need big league-ready pitchers, with Kodai Senga and David Peterson the only definite starters heading into 2025. Youngsters like Brandon Sproat and Blade Tidwell could factor into the mix for 2025, as could less-touted prospects like Dominic Hamel or Mike Vasil, but it’s hard to imagine those guys breaking camp with the big league club.

Another thing to take into account is the veteran’s success in the postseason. Following a trip the NLCS, the Mets’ World Series window is officially open, and having a gamer like Quintana come October is a huge plus. While he struggled in Game 4 of the NLCS against the potent Dodgers lineup, Quintana went a combined 11.0 innings against the Brewers and Phillies in the first two rounds, allowing just one unearned run while striking out 11 and walking only three.

Bringing Quintana back would give the Mets an affordable, reliable veteran to take the ball and compete every five days.

Verdict

Quintana is respected in the clubhouse, brings a bulldog mentality to all of his starts, and he’s a terrific mentor for the next wave of Mets starting pitchers.

Is he a top-of-the-rotation starter at this point in his career? No. But the Mets could do a lot worse than having the savvy lefty as their fourth or fifth starter.

With the next Mets’ pitching youth movement likely not quite ready to pitch in the majors come the start of next season, Quintana should be brought back, assuming he’s willing to take a one-year deal that won’t break the bank.