Mets planning to shut down Jose Quintana for three months

The Mets will prepare to play the first half of the season without Jose Quintana.

The left-hander is expected to be shut down from throwing for at least three months, according to sources, after he was diagnosed last week with a stress fracture on the fifth rib on his left side.

Under that timetable, Quintana would begin throwing again in mid-June at the earliest to ramp up for a return to the Mets’ rotation around the All-Star break.

Quintana, 34, arrived in the offseason on a two-year contract worth $26 million.

Report: Mets sign Jose Quintana to two-year, $26 million deal

The New York Mets have agreed to a two-year, $26 million contract with left-hander Jose Quintana, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

In 32 starts between the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals last season, Quintana put up a 2.93 ERA and 1.21 WHIP along with 137 strikeouts in 165.2 innings.

Quintana signed a one-year, $2 million deal with Pittsburgh before getting dealt to St. Louis.

The move comes days after the Mets signed Justin Verlander to a massive two-year $86 million deal to revamp their starting rotation.

Bob Nightengale on Twitter: “Now that Aaron Judge has signed, the free agent dominoes are falling: Closer Kenley Jansen, 2 years, $32 million: Boston Red Sox. Starter Jose Quintana, 2 years, $26 million: New York Mets.” / Twitter

Desperation moves?

Now that Aaron Judge has signed, the free agent dominoes are falling:
Closer Kenley Jansen, 2 years, $32 million: Boston Red Sox.
Starter Jose Quintana, 2 years, $26 million: New York Mets.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 7, 2022