Yanks land starter in Montas, give up 4 prospects.

There will surely be another deal, like dumping Joey Gallo, but Brian Cashman just completed his major objectives. Get an OF upgrade (Benintendi), get a reliever (see previous post on Effross) and get a starter.

The starter deal just went through. The Yanks got their man (after losing out on Castillo) in Frankie Montas of Oakland. They also get reliever Lou Trivino. For the pair, the Yanks give up #5 prospect Ken Waldichuk (who I really liked, but you have to give to get), #10 prospect Luis Medina, #20 prospect J.P. Sears, and #21 prospect Cooper Bowman.

A look at each.

COMING TO YANKS

Montas. 29 years old. RHP Arbitration eligible 2023, Free agent 2024. RHP. Only 4-9, but a 3.18 ERA (ERA+ 118) for a bad A’s team. Last year he was 13-9, 3.37, ERA+ 122 and finished 6th in CYA voting. For his career, 35-32, 3.73, ERA+ 110. (100 is average).

Trivino. 30. RHP. I am not sold on this one, but it may have been an if you want A, you got to take B kind of thing. Trivino is having a bad year for Oakland, 1-6, 6.47, ERA+ 59 with 10 saves. He had a good 2021, going 7-8, 3.18 with 22 saves. His career has been like that. Good, bad, good, bad. For example, in his rookie year, he was 8-3, 2.92 in 2018. ERA+ 143. But in 2019 he was 4-6, 5.25. ERA+ 82. Hot and cold. For his career, he is 20-23, 4.04, ERA+ 103. Arbitration eligible 2023, Free agent 2025.

LEAVING

#5 prospect Ken Waldichuk. 24. LHP. 6-3, 2.71 between AA/AAA this year. I have been following him since last year. Liked what I saw. You got to give to get, though. 12-8, 3.00 in minor league career, 50 games, 48 starts. 328 K in 215 2/3 IP.

#10 prospect Luis Medina. RHP. 23. 4-3, 3.38 at AA this year. 14-20, 4.46 in minor league career, 86 games, 84 starts.

#20 prospect J.P. Sears. LHP, 26. Pitched in 7 games for Yanks this year, 2 starts. 3-0, 2.05, ERA+ 190. Was 1-1, 1.67 at AAA this year. Did very well in brief time in majors this year.

#21 prospect Cooper Bowman. 2B/SS. 22. Righty bat. .217-8-35 with 35 SB at High A this year. In 111 minor league games, .227-12-58 with 48 SB.

Seeing what the Mariners got for Castillo (they gave up 4 prospects, including their 1, 3 and 5) you knew that Montas would not come cheap. At least the Yanks gave up one of the top 4 prospects they had. But 3 top 10’s go today, as well as Sears.

I’ll have to update the prospect list.