There’s always that player. Despite all evidence to the contrary, you’re convinced they’re going to be good. You can explain away anything that happens. 

That’s how I always felt about Aaron Heilman. I thought the Mets never gave him a fair chance to start. They messed around with his arm angles and bounced him between starting and relieving. Sure, I ignored his career 5.93 ERA as a starter (small sample size) and focused upon his good work out of the bullpen in 2006 (regular season).  While I believed in Heilman, it just never happened for him. I thought about this when I saw this:

Also, it's pretty clear Jon Niese can be had given where the Mets stand with their rotation. They like Montero as potential fifth starter.

— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) December 7, 2015

Seriously?  When will the Mets irrational over confidence in Rafael Montero end?  They may trade Jon Niese because Montero has the potential to be the fifth starter.  This is the same team that thought Montero should start in 2014 while eventual Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom should be in the bullpen. 

Montero wasn’t good in his initial call-up. He was 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.600 WHIP in four starts. He was sent down and injured his oblique. He did come back up and pitched fairly well as a starter. Last year, Montero started in the bullpen. The Mets then sought to move him into the rotation to create a six man rotation to keep everyone fresh. Montero only lasted one start.

He went on the DL with right rotator cuff inflammation.  He was transferred from the 15 day to the 60 day DL to make room for Michael Conforto. His rehab was rumored to be progressing slowly. He then had a set-back. His year was effectively over. 

It’s not fair to call Montero a bust. It’s still too early in his career for that. It’s also too early to consider him injury prone even if he’s lost big chunks of time over the past two years. With that said, there is no way the Mets should have Montero as a definitive part of their 2015 plans. 

It’s widely assumed the fifth starter spot is eventually going to Zack Wheeler. It’s also assumed Niese will hold the spot for at least the first half of the season. After that, he could become trade bait, continue his excellent work in the bullpen, or both. Niese could also be insurance against a starting pitcher getting injured or create a six man rotation to get the other starters some rest. 

Montero could do the same, but why would you rely upon him doing that?  He hasn’t proven that he can be relied upon. You can trade Niese for a good return. However, you don’t do that because you think Montero could fulfill his spot. He’s been too unreliable to justify that thought process. This front office has a blind spot for him that could’ve meant deGrom in the bullpen. The Mets should learn from this. 

Instead, why don’t the Mets go and see how Aaron Heilman’s arm is?