MLB trade deadline: Yankees foiled by Mariners, pivot to Frankie Montas
By Kevin Henry
The Seattle Mariners sent shockwaves through the latest stages of the MLB trade deadline by acquiring Luis Castillo from the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night. Now the New York Yankees, looking for starting pitching help themselves, have pivoted to a new top target.
According to a tweet from MLB insider Jon Heyman, Frankie Montas of the Oakland A’s is the new top starting pitcher target for the New York Yankees.
How the Luis Castillo trade altered the MLB trade deadline and shook up the pitching plans for the New York Yankees
The Yankees had expressed “strong interest” in Castillo, especially after the former Cincinnati pitcher limited New York to just two hits and one run over seven innings in a July 14 appearance at Yankee Stadium. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com had labeled Castillo as “the No. 1 starter available on this year’s trade market right now” just a week ago.
Now the Yankees could potentially meet up with Castillo in the American League postseason should the Mariners hang on to their Wild Card spot and end the franchise’s postseason drought that has been in place since the 2001 campaign.
With that in mind, the Yankees will reportedly look to the American League West for help against Seattle and the rest of the league’s competition, pushing Oakland’s Montas to the top of their pitching wish list.
In 19 starts this season, Montas has a 3.18 ERA/3.36 FIP/1.127 WHIP over 104.2 innings. The right-hander has allowed just 90 hits while striking out 109.
Montas is not able to become a free agent until the 2024 campaign, meaning that, along with another top starter being off the market, his price will likely not come cheap for the Yankees or any other team. As a note, Castillo has the same amount of team control as well, and it cost the Mariners four solid prospects that you can read more about here to acquire him.
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The price may have just gone up on Frankie Montas and the New York Yankees are on the clock to make sure another team doesn’t snap up one of their pitching targets.