The next few days are going to be stressful for Frankie Montas. Trade rumors are swirling around him, and it is far more likely that his next start will be in a different uniform than the Oakland A’s. It is just a matter of when that happens and which team he will be heading to.
That does not mean that Montas is looking forward to the next chapter on his journey. In fact, he wants to stay in Oakland, even if he knows that is not in the cards.
Frankie Montas not looking forward to next chapter
The A’s had been Montas’ fourth organization. He was originally signed as an amateur free agent by the Red Sox in 2009 before being sent to the White Sox as part of the three team trade that sent Jake Peavy to Boston. The White Sox then sent Montas to the Dodgers as part of another three team trade with Todd Frazier ending up in Cincinnati. Eventually, he found a home in Oakland when he was part of the return for Rich Hill and Josh Reddick.
Montas has been what the A’s could have hoped for during his time in Oakland. A top of the rotation arm who has flashes of being an ace, he has posted a 3.70 ERA and a 1.265 WHiP in his 552.2 innings, striking out 578 batters with 161 walks as a member of the A’s. There have been some bumps in the road, such as his PED suspension, but he has proven to be a dependable arm who can prove six or more solid innings every fifth day.
In theory, the A’s do not need to trade Montas. He has another year of team control left and could be an asset moving forward. If the A’s were serious about having a core that would contend, Montas is the type of player that would fit.
But it all comes back to the almighty dollar. John Fisher is crying poverty (again) and demanded that payroll be slashed. For as much as Montas may want to stay in Oakland, there is no point in keeping him on a team with zero postseason aspirations for the foreseeable future. That means that his time will be over soon.
Frankie Montas does not want to leave the Oakland A’s behind. Unfortunately, in this case, that is not his call to make.