The New York Yankees just completed a trade for Chicago Cubs reliever Scott Effross, who has five and a half of team control years remaining. They had acquired outfielder Andrew Benintendi last week, so that leaves one position they will likely address before tomorrow’s deadline: starting pitcher.
The Yankees missed out on Luis Castillo after showing interest for weeks and making an offer. Now, they appear to have shifted their focus to Oakland Athletics’ pitcher Frankie Montas.
Montas, 29, is having a great season with the A’s, but he is their best trade chip and are extremely likely to move him. According to MLB Network and New York Post’s insider Jon Heyman, they are starting to inform teams they are eliminated from the sweepstakes, a sign that a trade may be in the works.
“Teams are being told they have been eliminated from the Frankie Months sweepstakes, suggesting a deal may be close. Yankees are among teams still in,” Heyman tweeted on Monday afternoon.
The Yankees will have to part ways with a top prospect
Montas will likely require the Yankees to part with one of Anthony Volpe, Jasson Dominguez, or Oswald Peraza. The latter remains the more likely player for the Yanks to build a package around and entice the A’s into giving them Montas.
The right-handed pitcher has started 19 games and pitched 104.2 innings so far in 2022, with a strong 3.18 ERA and a 3.36 FIP. He has struck out a solid 25.8% of the hitters he has faced, with 6.6% of walks.
Montas has also accmulated 2.0 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) for the lowly A’s. If acquired, he would represent a major upgrade for the Yankees rotation, as he has the talent to slot in at any spot.
Montas and San Francisco Giants’ left-hander Carlos Rodon remain the only pitchers available in the market that could make a real difference, or “move the needle” for any team.