The New York Yankees have their big fish. Right-handed pitchers Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino from the Oakland Athletics are going to the Bronx for left-handers Ken Waldichuk and JP Sears, RHP Luis Medina, and second baseman Cooper Bowman. The Yankees get another frontline starter to add to the mix while keeping their top prospects of Anthony Volpe, Jasson Dominguez, and Oswald Peraza.
With Luis Severino injured, the Yankees need a starter to pair with Gerrit Cole and Nestor Cortes Jr. Jordan Montgomery and Jameson Taillon have been up-and-down in recent starts. Montas is a legitimate playoff starter, and comes alongside a possible relief ace. The 29-year-old Montas was the second-best option on the trade market behind Cincinnati’s Luis Castillo, who was traded to Seattle for a package headlined by Noelvi Marte, who MLB Pipeline ranked as a top-20 prospect in baseball. The Yankees don’t give up nearly as much as that. Since the start of 2021, Castillo has a 3.63 ERA and a 3.58 FIP in 47 starts. In 51 starts, Montas has a 3.30 ERA and a 3.37 FIP. Both pitchers are free agents after the 2023 season. However, Montas just came off the injured list with shoulder problems, which will be something to monitor as the regular season goes on.
Trivino is an interesting acquisition. He is still eligible for arbitration for two more seasons. His base salary is $3 million this year, and wouldn’t go down over those next two years. If he struggles in New York, he could be non-tendered, which is the worst case scenario. Trivino has a high WHIP, which is accredited to a 12.3 H/9. Batters have a .451 BAbip against Trivino, which is impossible to replicate, even if a pitcher was trying. He also has a groundball rate above 52 percent this year and a slider with a whiff rate of 52 percent.
Montas, 29, has a 3.18 ERA with 109 strikeouts, a 3.36 FIP, and a 1.137 WHIP in 104.2 innings pitched this year. In his MLB career for the A’s and Chicago White Sox, Montas has a 3.73 ERA with 578 strikeouts, a 3.71 FIP and a 1.274 WHIP in 552.2 innings pitched.
Trivino, 30, has a 6.47 ERA with 45 strikeouts and a 3.84 FIP in 32 innings pitched this year. In his MLB career, Trivino has a 4.04 ERA with 277 strikeouts, a 3.94 FIP, and a 1.346 WHIP in 263 innings pitched.
Despite not dealing any of their top-three prospects, the Yankees still purged their farm system in the past week. Of MLB Pipeline’s top-30 Yankee prospects, they traded two ranked players in TJ Sikkema and Beck Way to Kansas City for Andrew Benintendi, and Hayden Wesneski to Chicago for reliever Scott Effross. All four players going to Oakland are on the list.
Waldichuk is the headliner, placed at number five on the list. He conquered AA early on this year, and has excelled since a call-up to AAA. While control can be an issue at times, he is one of the best minor league starters at striking batters out. Medina can reach triple digits on his fastball, and is having a good season at AA. Even more than Waldichuk, control is a major problem for him. Sears is the only one of the group with major league experience. He could be ready to take Montas’ spot in the Oakland rotation. He has looked good in limited time this season for the big club. Bowman was drafted last year, and while he has not hit well at High-A, he has shown a great ability to steal bases. With Sears and Medina included, the 40-man roster number does not change for either team.
Waldichuk, 24, has a 2.71 ERA with 116 strikeouts and a 1.140 WHIP in 76.1 innings between AA and AAA this season. In his minor league career, Waldichuk has a 3.00 ERA with 328 strikeouts and a 1.113 WHIP in 215.2 innings.
Sears, 26, has a 2.05 ERA with 15 strikeouts and a 0.864 WHIP in 22 innings for the Yankees this year. He has a 1.67 ERA with 55 strikeouts and a 0.721 WHIP in 43 innings at AAA.
Medina, 23, has a 3.38 ERA with 81 strikeouts, 40 walks, and a 1.194 WHIP in 72 innings for AA Somerset this season. In his minor league career, Medina has a 4.46 ERA with 431 strikeouts, 244 walks, and a 1.470 WHIP in 361.1 innings.
Bowman, 22, has hit eight home runs with 35 stolen bases and a .698 OPS in 364 Plate Appearances for High-A Hudson Valley this season.
CarterHud 