The New York Yankees' trade acquisition of starting pitcher Frankie Montas hasn't panned out. Their latest update won't exactly instill optimism from the fanbase.
The New York Yankees are in free-fall mode, as they are in sole possession of last place in the AL East division. While the fanbase has watched the bats go silent and the once-strong bullpen begins the cost games, Yankees manager Aaron Boone is still preaching confidence that the team can go on a run in the second half. Some fans call it wishful thinking. Others, toxic positivity. When it comes to their starting rotation, they do have two pitchers on the sidelines due to injuries. There is an update on one, and the fans may not like what they hear.
Frankie Montas, whom the Yankees acquired from the Oakland Athletics at last year's trade deadline, was recovering from offseason right shoulder surgery. According to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News, Montas was recently limited to playing catch, as he was shut down due to soreness in his right shoulder.
Yankees: Frankie Montas recently shut down due to right shoulder soreness
Again, not the news that Yankees fans wanted to hear, considering how Montas' stint in New York has gone over the past year.
After losing out on Luis Castillo, who was traded from the Cincinnati Reds to the Seattle Mariners, the Yankees pivoted to Montas. General manager Brian Cashman acquired Montas and relief pitcher Lou Trivino from Oakland in exchange for prospects Ken Waldichuk, Luis Medina, J.P. Sears, and Cooper Brown.
Montas missed time before that year's trade deadline due to right shoulder inflammation that forced him to miss time. The Yankees looked at his 3.18 ERA, and 109 strikeouts over 104.2 innings in Oakland and decided it was worth parting ways with four of their top prospects.
After eight starts for the Yankees, Montas missed most of September due to right shoulder inflammation. He would pitch in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Houston Astros out of the bullpen. Then, this offseason, it was determined Montas needed to undergo surgery for the labrum in his right shoulder, putting him in a position to miss the majority of the 2023 campaign.
Overall, Montas recorded a 6.35 ERA, a 1.538 WHIP, 33 strikeouts, and 15 walks in 39.2 innings (eight starts).
This past March, Montas revealed, via MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, that he wasn't fully healthy when the Yankees acquired him, and that he pitched through the injury to help out the team.
The acquisition of Montas will be one that disgruntled Yankees fans will point to as one of the reasons why the team should move on from Cashman. Thus far, there is no update on when he will return, other than that he was shut down and was scheduled for a follow-up doctor's appointment.
With the trade deadline approaching, Yankees fans will wait and see who the team will acquire and hope it doesn't go as bad as the Montas deal seemingly is right now.