A hypothetical trade for Frankie Montas

Frankie Montas can be a difficult pitcher to value. The Oakland A’s starter has his moments where he appears to be unhittable and finally living up to his potential as a staff ace. Then there are those outings where he is almost unusable, getting hammered by the opposition. That inconsistency can be maddening to watch.

Nonetheless, Montas is a highly sought after commodity on the trade market. If the A’s do end up deciding to embark on their rebuild, he will be a player that teams will be looking to get. One of those teams, the Seattle Mariners, reached out to discuss a hypothetical trade for Montas. Here is what we think a deal could look like:

Oakland A’s can restock farm system with Frankie Montas trade

It is fair to wonder if the A’s would have received enough for Montas, but this return has the potential to pay major dividends. This provides pieces for both 2022 and into the future, as well as a pair of intriguing prospects that could make such a return a steal for Oakland.

Evan White would be protection in the event of a Matt Olson trade. While he has not hit in the majors, with a .165/.235/.308 batting line with ten homers and ten doubles in 306 plate appearances, he did hit extremely well in the minors. White is also a brilliant defensive first baseman, having won the Gold Glove at the position in 2020. He may simply need a change of scenery to unlock his potential

Juan Then has the type of stuff where he could be a solid piece in the rotation or a dominant closer. His fastball and slider are both considered plus pitches, with the fastball having received an uptick in velocity last year. It comes down to the development of his changeup as to what his future role will be. If he can get the change to be a viable third offering, he should be a building block in the rotation. Otherwise, Then has the velocity and slider to be a future closer.

Zach DeLoach made an impressive professional debut last season. A second round selection in the 2020 MLB Draft, he started the 2021 season in High-A ball before being promoted to Double-A. DeLoach has the type of power that his frame may indicate as he looks as though he would be more at home on the gridiron, but he also has plus speed and the ability to play all three outfield spots.

This is clearly a trade for the future. While White would theoretically be inserted into the lineup for the 2022 campaign, provided that Olson is dealt, DeLoach and Then may not debut until 2023. It may take even longer for Then, especially as he works on that third offering. However, the potential ceiling of these players would make such a deal worth considering.

The Seattle Mariners are interested in Frankie Montas. This may be the type of return that the Oakland A’s could get for his services.