The Mets’ rotation had a massive overhaul going into 2023. With the departures of Jacob deGrom, Chris Bassitt, and Taijuan Walker, the Mets had to look outside the organization for pitching. They made big moves with the additions of Justin Verlander and Kodai Senga, but the final replacement was more of an under-the-radar move. The Mets signed José Quintana to a two-year, $26 million deal.

Quintana had his best season in years in 2022, pitching to a 2.93 ERA over 32 starts between the Pirates and Cardinals. The Mets had hoped the left-hander could be a steady contributor in the back of their rotation, but a rib fracture put him on the injured list for three and a half months while the Mets’ rotation struggled.

In just his second start of the season, Quintana turned in a quality start at Yankee Stadium. The left-hander went six innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out five Yankees. It was an impressive outing for the Colombian pitcher and could have been even better if not for lackluster Met defense.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

He struggled in the first two innings, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks, but he also was not helped out by his defense in allowing the two runs. With the bases loaded and one out, Mark Vientos fielded a ground ball behind third base. He could have stepped on third for the force or thrown home with DJ LeMahieu not breaking from third on contact, but he chose to go to second and lost the play. The next batter hit a sacrifice fly to bring in the second run.

Over his next four innings, Quintana found his stride. He allowed just one unearned run on three singles and a walk. He threw 94 pitches on the night after throwing just 77 over five innings in his first start of the season and got 11 swings-and-misses in his six innings of work. His season ERA sits a 3.27 after his first two starts.

Through two starts, Quintana has shown why the Mets targeted the veteran pitcher in the offseason.

“He just competes,” Buck Showalter said of Quintana following the game. “Tonight was a good example. He kept us in the ballgame. A lot of guys would not have got that deep in the game after those first couple of innings.”

Quintana has never been the pitcher who racks up massive strikeout totals or overpowers lineups, but for a Mets team that has struggled so much with starting pitching depth in 2023, a pitcher like Quintana filling out the rotation could be a valuable option to have in the backend of the rotation.

While Andy Martino of SNY reported that teams were scouting Quintana ahead of the August 1 trade deadline, the Mets would be wise to hold onto the 12-year veteran. Although he does not have the resume of Verlander or Senga, he can be a steady member of the rotation while giving the Mets a chance to win a lot more often than not.

The Mets will have to make some changes if they want to improve in 2024. The rotation has had plenty of issues in 2023, but with the upcoming free agent class being thin of starting pitching aside from Shohei Ohtani, having a reliable option like Quintana in the backend of the rotation could end up helping the Mets return to their 2022 ways.