Montreal Menace 2024 Season Preview
The Montreal Menace enter 2024 with high expectations in the ultra-competitive Robinson Division. After a dismal 65–97 finish last year (dead last in the division), Montreal’s front office and fan base are eyeing a dramatic turnaround. Preseason projections peg the Menace at 76.3 total WAR, narrowly the best in the division and just ahead of rivals Bristol (76.1) and Beaconsfield (70.1).
In a division that saw Bristol win 106 games last season and Beaconsfield hover around .500, Montreal’s on-paper improvements vault them from cellar-dweller to legitimate contender virtually overnight. The question now is whether the Menace can convert those paper gains into on-field success – perhaps even a division title or at least a long-awaited playoff berth.
Lineup and Offense: Montreal’s lineup looks substantially improved and notably well-balanced, blending power and speed at every turn. The infield is anchored by superstar shortstop Francisco Lindor, who is coming off a projected 33-homer, 29-steal campaign with a .273 average and 7.8 WAR. Lindor’s combination of gold-glove defense and switch-hitting power-speed makes him the two-way leader of this squad. Alongside him, young phenom Gunnar Henderson is primed for a breakout as the full-time DH – he’s forecast for a monster stat line (37 HR, 21 SB, .281 AVG, .893 OPS) and a team-high 8.0 WAR.
Henderson’s left-handed bat adds thunder to the heart of the order and should pair with Lindor to give Montreal a formidable 1-2 punch. Third baseman Eugenio Suárez provides veteran power at the hot corner (30 HR, 101 RBI projected), while second-year center fielder Jarren Duran brings table-setting spark at the top. Duran is coming off a projection of 21 homers and 34 steals with a .285 average, signaling that his 2023 flashes of brilliance could translate into a full-season breakout.
The outfield corners and remaining infield spots offer a mix of steady veterans and ascending talents. In right field, Bryan Reynolds will try to rebound from a relatively modest 2.1-WAR projection – he’s still slated for 24 homers and a .275 average, but the Menace hope the 29-year-old can exceed those forecasts given his past All-Star form. Opposite him, 23-year-old Riley Greene patrols left field, and Montreal is counting on his development to continue. Greene is penciled in for a solid 24 HR, 82 R, 74 RBI season with a .262/.348/.479 slash line, good for about 4.0 WAR, as he continues to grow into a middle-of-the-order force. On the infield, second base will be handled by a platoon of sorts: contact hitter Bryson Stott (projected .245 average, 32 steals) and rookie Zack Gelof (17 HR, 25 SB despite a low .211 average) could split time, giving Montreal flexibility based on matchups. At first base, the Menace have an embarrassment of riches with three capable options: Jake Cronenworth (17 HR, 72 R, 83 RBI), , on-base machine Yandy Díaz (.281 AVG, .341 OBP), , and slugger Vinnie Pasquantino (19 HR, .446 SLG) . This trio will rotate between first base and DH, and even spill over into other positions (Cronenworth can play second, Díaz third) to keep their bats in the lineup. Behind the plate, Tyler Stephenson provides stability and pop – the 27-year-old catcher is forecast for 19 homers with a .338 OBP, anchoring the pitching staff while chipping in nearly 3 WAR. His backup, Iván Herrera, is no slouch either, projecting a .300+ average in part-time duty and giving Montreal a rare offensive threat in a reserve catcher role.
Bench and Depth: One of Montreal’s clear strengths is its depth. The roster boasts a number of multi-positional players and high-upside youngsters who can step in without much drop-off. Chief among them is Zach Neto, a talented 22-year-old infielder who could easily be a starter elsewhere. Neto is officially listed as a bench player but is projected to appear in 155 games, swatting 23 homers and stealing 30 bases . Essentially a super-utility shortstop/second baseman, Neto allows the Menace to rest Lindor or Stott liberally and covers any injuries with minimal defensive or offensive loss – his 3.5 WAR projection underscores his value as an insurance policy with upside. Veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk provides right-handed power off the bench (12 HR in 106 games) and can slot into either corner outfield spot; he’s a useful piece against left-handed pitching. Likewise, corner infielder José Miranda offers quality at-bats in a reserve role and experience at first or third (projected .284 average, 9 HR.
This trio – Neto, Grichuk, and Miranda – forms the core of a bench that can contribute significantly over a long season. Furthermore, Montreal has even more depth stashed on the roster: utilityman Andy Ibáñez and veteran Kevin Pillar are on hand for additional infield and outfield coverage, respectively, and two intriguing prospects (Jung Hoo Lee and Evan Carter) could see time late in the year
In short, the Menace have built a roster with few holes – a stark change from the thin lineups of years past – and now feature a mix of youth and experience that should keep the offense humming even when injuries strike or starters need a day off.
Starting Rotation: If Montreal is to make a leap in the standings, the rotation will be a big reason why. The Menace have assembled a six-man starting staff headlined by a blend of power arms and innings-eaters, including the much-anticipated debut of Paul Skenes. Skenes, the top pitching prospect, is stepping directly into a major role – he’s projected to go 11–3 with a sparkling 1.96 ERA and 11.5 K/9 across 133 innings. That eye-popping ERA and strikeout rate speak to the 21-year-old’s ace potential; if he comes anywhere close to those numbers, Montreal will have a bona fide frontline starter from day one. The more established ace of the staff is right-hander Dylan Cease, who brings experience and swing-and-miss stuff. Cease is looking for a rebound after an up-and-down 2023, and projections see him finishing 14–11, 3.47 ERA with 189+ innings.
Cease led the AL in strikeouts two seasons ago, and with a projected 10.6 K/9 this year, Cease should continue to rack up punchouts at the top of the rotation – albeit with the caveat of occasionally high walk rates (projected 3.1 BB/9). Behind those two, Montreal will rely heavily on a pair of young, durable Seattle-bred arms: George Kirby and Logan Gilbert. Kirby is the control artist of the bunch – in 33 starts he’s slated for a minuscule 1.1 BB/9 and a solid 3.53 ERA, numbers that reflect his efficient, strike-throwing approach. Gilbert, meanwhile, is the workhorse – he’s projected to log 208.2 innings, the most on the staff by far, with a strong 9.5 K/9 and 3.23 ERA.
The duo combined for roughly 8.3 WAR in the projections, giving the Menace a reliable mid-rotation backbone that should keep them in games every night. Rounding out the starting mix are lefty Ranger Suárez and swingman Nick Martinez. Suárez (12–8, 3.46 ERA)provides a different look as a crafty southpaw and has proven playoff mettle from his Phillies days. Martinez is slated for a hybrid long-man/spot-starter role (“Spot” starter in team parlance) – he may only start 16 games, but will appear in 42 overall, likely bridging the gap between the rotation and bullpen frequently.
Martinez’s projections (3.10 ERA, 1.1 BB/9 in 142 innings) suggest he could thrive in that flexible role. Collectively, Montreal’s rotation carries no obvious weak links; remarkably, every one of the six main starters is forecast for at least 3.5 WAR or better. That kind of across-the-board solidity is something few teams can claim, and it bodes well for the Menace’s ability to avoid prolonged losing streaks.
Bullpen: The Menace bullpen might not have many household names, but it could be one of the league’s more effective relief corps, anchored by an array of high-octane arms. Veteran closer Raisel Iglesias brings stability to the ninth inning – the 34-year-old is projected for 34 saves and a pristine 1.95 ERA. Iglesias isn’t the strikeout monster some other closers are (8.8 K/9), but his postseason experience and steady hand will be valuable for a team with newfound pressure to win. Setting him up, however, are plenty of strikeout artists. Right-handers Cade Smith and Griffin Jax are slated for key setup roles and each boasts a K/9 around 12.0, signaling their ability to miss bats in big moments. Smith (a hard-throwing youngster acquired from Cleveland) is projected to post a 1.91 ERA over 75 innings, while Jax (coming off a strong year in Minnesota) should be equally reliable with a 2.03 ERA in 72 innings.
The middle relief corps is similarly hard-nosed: swingman Ryan Walker (11.1 K/9, 1.91 ERA) and lefty Keegan Akin (11.1 K/9 as well) give manager Marcel Levvac a pair of high-K options to deploy in the 6th and 7th innings. Walker in particular impressed with 10 wins and 10 saves in a fireman role last year, and he seems poised to fill any role from multi-inning duty to occasional closer as needed.
Rounding out the bullpen are the long relievers: Evan Phillips, a savvy right-hander from Los Angeles, and Beau Brieske, a young righty with starting experience. Phillips (projected 3.62 ERA) will handle tough right-handed hitters and eat innings when the starters falter, while Brieske (projected 46 games, 12 starts)provides length and a solid 3.59 ERA in a swing role. Both can spot-start if injuries hit the rotation. As a whole, this bullpen’s calling card is clearly its strikeout ability – five of seven relievers sport a K/9 above 10– which should help Montreal escape jams and shorten games. One potential concern is the lack of a shutdown lefty specialist (Akin is more of a multi-inning arm), but with so many right-handers who handle lefty batters well, the Menace might not miss a beat.
Overall Strengths: The first thing that jumps out about the 2024 Menace is their balance. This is a team constructed with a blend of power, speed, youth, and experience, and it shows in the stat sheet. Offensively, Montreal can beat opponents in a variety of ways. They have at least six players projected to hit 20 or more home runs, and six players projected to steal 20+ bases – a rare combination of team power and team speed that should make for a dynamic run-scoring machine. Henderson and Lindor are legitimate MVP-caliber talents anchoring the lineup, and around them are complementary pieces that fit well: a high-contact table-setter in Duran, a trio of disciplined hitters in Cronenworth/Díaz/Stephenson, and multiple young athletes like Greene and Stott who can change a game with a swing or a sprint.
Additionally, the lineup’s depth means Montreal can play matchups; for example, they can start the righty-hitting Gelof or Díaz against a left-handed pitcher, or bring in the speedy Neto to pinch-run or replace a slower veteran late in games. On the pitching side, the rotation’s depth is a major strength – few teams have a sixth starter of Martinez’s caliber or a rookie like Skenes who could pitch like an ace. That depth should keep the staff fresh and allow the Menace to weather any injuries better than most. The bullpen’s high strikeout rates are another strength, giving Tremblay the weapons to slam the door on rallies and confidently mix-and-match in the late innings. In short, this Montreal team has a bit of everything: star power at the top, quality depth across the roster, and a measurable statistical edge in both the speed and strikeout departments that could translate to crucial wins in close games.
Potential Weaknesses and Risks: Despite the optimism, Montreal is not without question marks. A big portion of their WAR projection is tied up in very young players, which inherently carries some risk. Skenes, Henderson, Duran, Gelof, and Neto have a combined zero seasons of full MLB experience – while all are talented, it’s possible one or more hit growing pains. Skenes, in particular, though supremely talented, will be closely watched to see if he can handle a big workload after just one year out of college. If he struggles or is on an innings limit, the rotation suddenly looks more ordinary. Henderson and Duran were electric in projections, but if either regresses or deals with a sophomore slump, the lineup could occasionally revert to the inconsistency that plagued it in the past. There are also a few batting average/OBP concerns at the bottom of the order; hitters like Gelof (.211 AVG projected) and Suarez (.319 OBP) won’t always sustain rallies, and Montreal might have to live with some streakiness.
The team’s defensive alignment is another area to monitor. By using Henderson primarily at DH, the Menace keep his legs fresh but sacrifice an opportunity to get another plus defender on the field – Suarez at third and Cronenworth/Díaz at first are solid but not spectacular with the glove, and Duran in center field is still proving he can be an above-average defender. There’s a chance late-game defense or overall team defense could be a mild weakness, especially if slower veterans like Grichuk or Miranda are in the field. Additionally, a few veterans carry regression or health flags: Dylan Cease needs to rebound from 2023’s control issues, Ranger Suárez missed time with injury last year, and Vinnie Pasquantino is returning from shoulder surgery – any setbacks there could eat into the team’s depth quickly. Lastly, while the bullpen has plenty of good arms, it lacks a left-handed specialist and is counting on at least one unproven commodity (Cade Smith) to deliver on his promise. Relievers are notoriously volatile, so Montreal will have to hope the projected bullpen dominance translates to reality; if not, they may need to shuffle roles or seek midseason help.
Outlook: The 2024 season represents a golden opportunity for the Montreal Menace to go from worst to first in their division. The massive influx of talent and development has given this club a legitimate shot to contend, something that seemed far-fetched a year ago. The Robinson Division title race should be fierce – Bristol is the defending champion and has a powerhouse roster of its own, and Beaconsfield is no pushover – but Montreal has every reason to believe they can stand toe-to-toe with those rivals. The preseason WAR standings put Montreal in a virtual tie for first, and anything less than a pennant race through September would be a disappointment given the talent on hand. That said, even if the Menace fall short of the division crown, they are squarely in the wild-card mix; league prognosticators have listed Montreal among the top wild-card contenders in the BDB, alongside teams like Bristol and Sacramento.
In practical terms, this means postseason baseball is a very real possibility at “Olympic Stadium” for the first time in years. For a franchise that just endured a 97-loss season, that is a remarkable turnaround. Of course, nothing is won on paper – the games still have to be played. But as the season dawns, Montreal’s faithful can finally dream again. If the young phenoms meet their hype and the veterans hold steady, the Menace have a strong chance to not only post a winning record but to be playing meaningful baseball in October. In a division loaded with talent, Montreal might just have the right combination of pieces to menace the competition and emerge as the surprise frontrunner in 2024.