OAKLAND, CA – MAY 4: Frankie Montas #47 of the Oakland Athletics warms up from the mound before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at RingCentral Coliseum on May 4, 2022 in Oakland, California. The Rays defeated the Athletics 3-0. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
Frankie Montas of the Oakland Athletics is one of a few pitchers who could be available at the MLB Trade Deadline.
As pitching becomes a greater need throughout Major League Baseball, the more talk some trade chips will receive. Oakland’s Frankie Montas is a name we will be hearing more and more as we get closer to the July trade deadline.
While the Oakland A’s traded off many of their assets prior to the season, the club kept Frankie Montas. He is signed through 2023 and, according to FanSided’s MLB insider Robert Murray, the A’s plan to shop him before the trade deadline while teams have more urgency to make a big trade.
The A’s asking price for Montas figures to be substantial, Murray reports, with the A’s asking the White Sox for young slugger Andrew Vaughn in trade talks before the regular season.
“The haul for Montas figures to be substantial,” Murray said. “With teams in desperate need of starting pitching and a likely bidding war for Montas, perhaps there is a team or two who are finally willing to meet the A’s demands.”
Currently, Montas is 2-4 after eight games started and 49 innings pitched. He has a ground ball-induced rate of 48.8%, which is ideal for teams with great defenses behind the mound. The A’s are currently fifth in the AL West with a 16-24 record. While he hasn’t had the greatest of starts to the season, it would be curious to see if there would be an improved performance with a change in scenery.
Let’s take a look at some of the teams that may require the services of Montas.
Frankie Montas trade rumors: Chicago White Sox
As Murray had reported, the A’s asking price from the White Sox involved young slugger Andrew Vaughn before the regular season. The White Sox, meanwhile, balked at the proposal and talks went nowhere.
The White Sox are second in the AL Central with a record of 19-19. They could use some help to push them along. Lance Lynn is currently on the 60-injured list. Lucas Giolito is 2-1 after six games and a recent return from the Covid-IL. Dylan Cease is still building himself up after 8 games and a 4-1 record. The club is also depending on older arms Michael Kopesch, Dallas Kuechel, Vince Velasquez, and Johnny Cueto. The team needs another dependable starter to help Giolito and Lynn, once he returns.
The team has a loaded but likely taxed bullpen. Their roster has tons of talent and while the club balked at losing Vaughn beforehand, it would be interesting to see what they would be ok with now.
The White Sox will likely remain linked to Montas.