5:47pm: The A’s and Manaea have settled on a $9.75MM salary, reports Kiley McDaniel of ESPN (on Twitter). That finalizes the 2022 price tags of two of the trade market’s top arms.
5:40pm: The Athletics and right-hander Frankie Montas have agreed to a $5.025MM salary to avoid arbitration, reports Robert Murray of FanSided (Twitter link). That’s a bit less than the $5.2MM projection of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz.
There have been a handful of players to settle for higher guarantees than Montas has today, but his price point is among the most notable of any arbitration-eligible player. The righty is probably the top starter available on the trade market, as the A’s have shopped essentially all of their higher-paid options. Chris Bassitt, Matt Olson and Matt Chapman have all been shipped out already; Montas and Sean Manaea are widely expected to be moved as well, with each having already been prominent targets for pitching-needy clubs.
Montas is controllable through 2023, as he’ll be arbitration-eligible again next winter. Manaea, on the other hand, is headed into his final year of control. The southpaw is projected for a $10.2MM salary. That makes Montas the more desirable trade target, as he’s both more affordable this year and any acquiring club could keep him around for an additional season.
Keep him until the all star break when demand for his services will be even higher as more teams will be sniffing the playoffs
That’s not how Ivy League gms think. More control full season to 60 games. You definitely get more now, unless some team has a bunch of injuries. But it’s usually too big of risk.
a’s fans (both of them) should be happy about this … that is until boy wonder Beane trades them in his semi-annual money saving tear-down.
Semi-annual? Um no
Keeping him would probably be better, there doesn’t seem to be a huge difference in prospect return for 1.5 vs. 2 seasons.
This article also overstates his value a little, he only has one good season under his belt with a lot of past injuries and a steroid suspension. Another half year of success could significantly raise confidence in his abilities.
I keep hoping the Yankees get manaea
I like montas better but I’ll take either one
What would the Yankees offer to the A’s in return for Manea and Montas!? I’m sure if Georgie was around he wouldn’t have had hesitated this long…
I would offer Wells, Schmidt and Peraza for Montas, maybe another lower tier prospect.
Clear out the farm on Montas/Murphy/Laureano boom perfect match.
Yanks2323 well, at least it beats all the Frazier/Andujar offers for established stars that we heard last year. Might get Martin Perez for that.
“Volpe or lose this number”.
Wow Montas, Murphy and Laureano would be worth at least the top 5 Yankee prospects and probably a couple more. The Yankees would be scary if that happened.
I wouldn’t offer they package! Is he an ace? If so than offer those 3 who are in top 5 but obviously Montas is not. He is a mid rotation arm which we have allot of. Easy pass on that trade suggestion!
I don’t know, it’s semi-tempting. Would be nice to not have to worry about the catching position anymore and Laureano would be a crazy good-fit for the Yankees.
I keep hoping the Yankees come up with a quality starter and a center fielder.
One-stop shopping available at the Oakland Discount Warehouse, err, Oakland Alameda County Coliseum…
They dont want to give up anything good though, and other teams have better prospects they are willing to move.
There would be a match if the Yankees had the stones to clear out their farm on Montas/Laureano/Murphy, but they are stupid enough to call a prospect “untouchable” (one of the only teams that still does this btw). Put Volpe on the table or don’t even call.
You’re not alone with that particular desire, @Pernell.
Really like Laureano. He would solve a lot of our problems, man. I prefer Manea, but either he or Montas can add that rotation stability we could use.
Cash & his precious, precious value though.
Laureano would be a good match as a 4th outfielder or starting CF depending on Hicks health and come back. Only 1 problem he will miss part of 2022 season due to PED suspension. I guess the PED suspension makes you question his rise the last couple of years, but I take a chance. Would take either SP.
I like laureano plays game aggressive, intense although that can backfire like him getting suspended fighting the astros bench or lead to injury with over aggressive play.
Nothing wrong with a fiery competitor — the Astros situation wasnt his fault. The Yanks could use someone like him.
Montas is also a top 15 SP in MLB, Manaea more top 30ish.
Montas salary number ended up lower than expected, so his trade value increases correspondingly. I could see Oakland holding him to the deadline with the additional year of control still appealing to a trade partner this summer.
Manaea should be dealt now while his value is at peak – he is coming off a nice year and finally looked healthy. I doubt Oakland wants to roll the dice on him staying healthy for the first half, given his history.
I agree, Montas’s value will only ever improve from now to the deadline, while Manaea’s will go down. That said, if a team wants to go big on Montas now (or both) the A’s gotta listen.
That 175k is not making a difference in trade value
After the A’s sent Matt Olson to Atlanta. I am no longer looking at them as a trading partner. So let Montas and Manaea go elsewhere.
this is getting interesting. can’t wait to see who gets fleeced for Montas.
Someone will get fleeced. Over rated!
Both Minnesota bound
Please no Royce Lewis offers who hasn’t played in 2 years or nick gordon who looks like a utility type and probably blocked in Minnesota at both infield positions
Yes both are great deals , however an injury could drop trade value.. Knowing their salaries now makes trades even more possible.. First team to lose a starter for the year will be after them.
Montas, after all, has #2-3 upside and flop downside, striking out 207 men in 187 innings last year after a 5.60 ERA implosion in 2020 with a PED suspension mixed in (80 games back in 2019). Manaea’s metrics from 2021 were all over the place, and he might just be a reliable No. 4 in a more fire-breathing package.
Either would help the Yankees on some days and drastically hurt them on others. We’d applaud both acquisitions, but wouldn’t sacrifice more than a single top-five prospect in a Montas deal, and wouldn’t even want to dip into that area for Manaea — and the competition here is very high.
I thought the White Sox were going to add these guys to their growing stable of mediocre arms.