Frankie Montas could be the solely individual exterior of the A’s clubhouse who desires Frankie Montas to maintain carrying the inexperienced and gold. Regardless of publicly saying that he desires to remain in Oakland, it's sounding increasingly like Montas might be carrying a brand new uniform come Tuesday’s commerce deadline.
“He understands what he’s been instructed from the skin, and that there’s a excessive chance of him being traded,” Oakland supervisor Mark Kotsay instructed reporters earlier than Saturday’s sport in Chicago. “That mentioned, Frankie comes ready day by day. We talked about his mindset and his focus at the moment, and whether or not he begins for us or another person on Tuesday, it’s on him to be prepared for his begin.”
Offered the A’s pull off what most are predicting them to do, the anticipated return for Oakland’s ace with a 3.18 ERA needs to be gargantuan. Contemplate the case of Luis Castillo and his two All-Star berths earned with the Cincinnati Reds, who was thought of the 1A to Montas’ 1B on the pitching market.
So valued had been Castillo’s companies that the Mariners, for the second time in lower than a calendar 12 months, traded prime prospects to the Reds, reuniting Castillo with infielder Eugenio Suarez and outfielder Jesse Winker. The Mariners despatched away three of their greatest minor league prospects, together with the highly-touted shortstop Noelvi Marte, within the Thursday commerce.
It’s a steep value for one participant, for the reason that commerce has primarily transported the vast majority of Seattle’s future to center America. Nevertheless, for a talent-laden staff preventing for his or her first playoff berth in 21 years, that’s the type of value one pays to bolster their shot at competition.
Which brings us again to the East Bay, the place the A’s ranked twentieth in Bleacher Report’s farm system rankings previous to latest trades. Shea Langeliers needs to be within the inexperienced and gold inside a 12 months, and up to date draftees Tyler Soderstrom, Henry Bolte and Daniel Susac present hope for the distant future. However the last-place A’s in all probability need to shore up younger (and low-cost) expertise on the deadline.
If Castillo’s ransom is any indication, a profitable staff with aspirations of a World Collection trophy pays handsomely for an arm that may go deep into video games. The 29 year-old Montas is a confirmed commodity and would immediately enhance any pitching employees in baseball.
It’s additionally price noting that the right-handers are the identical age and their contract statuses are nearly similar — and most significantly, team-friendly. Each Montas and Castillo are underneath staff management for one more 12 months and received’t be unrestricted free brokers till the 2024 season. Their present offers are primarily the identical — Castillo’s contract reportedly is price $7.35M; Montas is scheduled to earn $5.025M.
Whereas it looks like a foregone conclusion that Montas might be headed elsewhere by Tuesday’s 3 p.m. PT deadline, the supervisor looks like the identical can't be mentioned for all of his teammates.
“I don’t see lots of our place gamers or pitchers being talked about within the media, so if I used to be of the mindset that one thing was imminent, I may need extra one-on-one conversations with gamers,” Kotsay mentioned. “I don’t see something written as aggressively about our guys as I've about Frankie.”
One participant who might draw curiosity from different groups is slugger Ramon Laureano. He has had a down 12 months on the plate since coming back from an 80-game PED suspension, however nonetheless flashes good bat velocity and a strong glove.
“I simply take care of commerce rumors by hitting higher,” .220 hitter Laureano mentioned earlier than Wednesday’s sport. “I've to concentrate on my job to do. So you already know, I've to go on the market and rake.”