It was reported yesterday that Yankees right-hander Frankie Montas will require shoulder surgery, keeping him out of action for most or perhaps all of the upcoming season. That led to some speculation that the club could try to make a trade for a replacement, but Andy Martino of SNY reports that no serious consideration of a trade has taken place and that the club will instead turn to internal replacements like Domingo Germán and Clarke Schmidt.
Per Martino’s report, there are a couple of reasons why the club is leaning in this direction. One factor is that they still have a strong front four even without Montas, which is certainly true. Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón would be in the discussion for the best one-two punch of any rotation in the league, while Luis Severino and Nestor Cortes provide the club with solid options for the next two slots.
That leaves the club in okay shape on paper, though another injury could quickly change that perception. Cortes is already hurt, dealing with a hamstring strain that caused him to withdraw from the World Baseball Classic, though he’s expected to be ready to go around Opening Day. Severino hardly pitched in the 2019-2021 stretch due to various injuries but managed to make 19 starts last year, though he did still make a trip to the 60-day injured list due to a lat strain. Rodón has largely been healthy the past two years but has had lengthy injury absences before, hardly pitching at all in 2019 or 2020.
By sticking with what they already have on the roster, the club is showing a lot of faith in that group to stay healthy, as well as believing in Germán and Schmidt. The former posted a 3.61 ERA in 72 1/3 innings last year, with a strong 6.4% walk rate but a subpar 19.5% strikeout rate. Schmidt had a 3.12 ERA in 57 2/3 innings with a 9.7% walk rate and 23.7% strikeout rate.
While believing in their players is one factor, Martino adds that the second factor is the club’s reluctance to cross the final luxury tax threshold, something that has come up in previous reports. Their current competitive balance tax figure is $292.48MM, per the calculations of Roster Resource, within a hair of the $293MM line. Going over it would lead to higher tax rates but no further penalties related to draft picks or things of that nature.
It doesn’t seem as though there’s absolutely no scenario in which the Yanks would cross that line. Martino reports that they did discuss Carlos Carrasco with the Mets this offseason. However, that was when it seemed as though the latter club was going to sign Carlos Correa and they wanted to move some salary off their books, such as the $14MM owed to Carrasco this year. Martino’s report indicates that once the Correa deal fell through and he signed with the Twins, Carrasco was no longer available.
Another path that the club gave some consideration to was Michael Wacha, as Joel Sherman of The New York Post reports that the Yankees checked in on him. However, he’s now off the board, having signed with the Padres this week.
It seems the team has some willingness to add another player under the right circumstances, but the desire to do so doesn’t appear very high. Free agency still features guys like Dylan Bundy and Chris Archer, whereas the trade market could theoretically have Chris Flexen and Adrian Houser on the block. It’s said that one phone call can quickly change things, but it seems the team is planning to lean on players already in the organization.
It’s a path that’s not without its risk, since the club has subtracted from its starting depth in recent years. Pitchers like Roansy Contreras, Jordan Montgomery, Hayden Wesneski, JP Sears and Ken Waldichuk and others have been dealt away over the past few seasons. The group still on the roster is strong for now but general manager Brian Cashman is aware the depth is shakier than usual. “We have a strong frontline and then obviously the next wave isn’t as strong as it has been in the past,” Cashman said to Sherman. “We need what we currently have to stay active and over the course of time, some alternative depth options might present themselves.” As they gear up for another battle in the cutthroat AL East, time will tell if they have the pieces to repeat as division champions.
Andy Martino is clown shoes
You know, it’s funny that after all the incredibly stupid fashion fads that people have bought into, clown shoes never became a fashion fad. I think it coulda been fun. They at least could’ve worked as an accessory to the exposed underwear/pants-hanging-below-your-ass look.
Great trade, Cash. Always money.
Yankees just need to stop trying to acquire Oakland A’s starters. They either can’t stay healthy or they suck in NY
Its truly funny the pitchers that they have went out and got. As you said oakland pitchers, thats a pitchers park. Yankee stadium is a hitters park. Its easy to look up these pitchers hr% once they got there. Even there ace-cole his hr% has never been higher. How they evaluate pitchers has got to change and the rodon signing is going to be interesting last year was great for him as far as hr’s go but he also had a pretty high fb rate and now moving to yankee stadium we shall see how that translates.
@milwauke. That reminds me of the Sonny Gray trade.
Not only NY SF too. Barry Zito says ‘hello’.
Cashman has been by far the worst GM the past couple years Gallo, Montas, IKF, Donaldson, Heaney losing out on Judge $, injuries to Benintendi/Effross, and Stanton/hicks a few years ago. The only ones bad at the time I’d say were Ikf/Donaldson/Montas/Heaney but it’s bizarre how bad these all moves have turned out
Bringing in IKF made plenty of sense. They needed some INF depth to bridge the gap to their young highly touted prospects. He is a perfectly serviceable option to be an 8 or 9 spot hitter who has a GG at 3B. Now, bringing over him AND Donaldson made zero sense. Even if you believe in Donaldson his contract was always way too expensive to take on for a team pinching pennies like they were.
Benni injury is just bad luck, but Montas should have had red flags blaring them in the face. Plus, they should have been getting this guy under the knife the day after they got bounced from the playoffs, not a few weeks before Spring Training. I’m VERY curious to see if Montas has been hiding the extent of the injury in order to secure his arb $.
Even if you give him a pass for IKF and Benni (I would), it is hard to argue that most GMs in the league would do any worse with the money the Yanks have. Steinbrenner only cares that the team makes money, and Cashman has kept the money flowing, whether they’re an embarrassment to their fans or not.
The IKF deal was a link in a series of bad moves. First, they brought back Gio Urshela on a one year deal when he was coming off an awful season. Then Cashman made it worse in the IKF deal. Then he brings IKF back at $6.5mil. Meanwhile, Donaldson returns with his $25mil salary on the books. IKF isn’t worth what he’s being paid. Cabrera or Peraza would be an upgrade for a lot less. Moreover, DRS has been proven to be a crappy stat. OAA is a better indicator and IKF career history at SS was always in the negative in OAA. IKF was only in the positive when he was playing 3B. Like Urshela, IKF isn’t a true SS. In conclusion, Cashman traded Urshela for a similar player plus a washed up Donaldson and his $25mil AAV and gets rewarded with an extension through 2026. The Yankees will never win a WS as long as Hal remains the owner.
Yankees always go for the bug names like Donaldson, even if they’re old and injured. Not sure why, but that seems to be a trend.
They way overpaid Cole and probably even Judge. It’s doubtful Judge hits 60 homeruns in a season again.
People just got done praising him for signing Judge. Yankee fans can’t make up their minds.
Pwn: Not to be too picky, but no true Yankees fan praised Cashman for Judge’s signing. Cashman didn’t sign him and couldn’t. Hal had to step in and take over the negotiations to get it done. Cashman lost credibility with Judge prior to the season’s start.
Also, Hal gets the credit for Rodon as well.
I stand corrected then.
Bringing back Judge doesn’t improve the team. It only makes it more expensive to operate.
I’m a Yankees fan living in NE and I’ve had more of my fill of the bantering from ignorant Red Sox fans and their trolling sports talk hosts. I honestly believe that the Red Sox are going to be better than most people think. I also think they will win a WS before the Yankees. People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
And people in grass houses shouldn’t stow thrones!
I think the Yankees will regret not signing Michael Wacha to be a #5 in the rotation, he’s still pretty good, and obviously they could of used him with Montas likely done for the year.
You were obviously correct captain. They putting a lot of faith in their injury Prone players to remain healthy which is a bit risky.
It tells me that they really don’t care that much, they’re willing to gamble knowing that they will make the playoffs regardless with the expanded playoffs as it is. Going any further than that is not been a priority for quite a while now.
Cashman already has the Boone press conference excuse for losing….. “Our guys were injured.”
In the last two or three years, the Yankees got off to a hot start and then coasted at the close of the season. This year should they not get that hot start, I think they are in trouble. Cortes, Trevino and Judge are not going to repeat. Hicks and IKF are the same and DJLM, Donaldson and Rizzo are a year older. Cole struggles to keep the ball in the ball park. Throw in Boone who is totally clueless and I can see storm clouds on the horizon.
They are kind of between a bowel movement and a sweat. They have maxed out their outlay before going over the cap number but they need to be prepared for some long absences. I doubt anyone takes their bad contracts to help them out either but they could try to entice someone with a big payroll with one of their hot prospects included. Other teams have done that in the past.
You men are acting like our Yankees are a 50 win team or something! Have some faith. I know their post-season struggles at the plate are absolutely ridiculous and inexcusable, and signing Michael Wacha as the five should’ve been a no-brainer. However, the team is pretty stacked, and coming off a 99 win season.
Also, I truly believe Domingo German, is a significantly better pitcher than Montas. Trading JP Sears was extremely ignorant, especially since he is a young and solid lefty. German absolutely belongs in the rotation though. Let’s not forget that he was 18-4 before that ridiculously long, bogus suspension in 2019. I’d bet a lot of $$$$ that if German played for the Boston Roid Sox during that time, he wouldn’t have been suspended a single game. German can certainly be a great People, including buffoons like Zach Britton, need to keep their mouths shut with regard to German.
Believe me, losing Frankie Montas for the entire season is not a big deal, whatsoever. Did you truly think he’d be a 15-20 game winner, with all of his mentally weak problems? Just another loser like Whitson, Steve Trout, Sonny Gray, Jaret Wright, Kevin Brown, Carl Pavanon and other mental midgets who can’t pitch on the World’s Biggest Stage. I will certainly go to war with Domingo German over Montas any day of the week though. My prediction is that the Yankees win 103 games this season,
The Yankees are at the threshold before the next tax level. This is Hal’s hard cap. So don’t expect the Yankees to make any more moves unless it’s a trade that shrinks the total payroll. TBH, if I were to pass the threshold, it wouldn’t be for a bad pitcher like Wacha.
Wacha is NOT a bad pitcher. Certainly a massive upgrade over Frankie Montas. And I am sickened to death hearing the Yankees and Hell’s “Hard Cap”. My GOD, we’re talking about Professional Sports greatest organization, and the richest. If they have any concerns over some socialist salary cap, then Steinbrenner should sell the team to someone who would pay anything to win, and most definitely renounce the Steinbrenner name, because King George would be absolutely sicked to death over what Hell Steinbrenner has done to his beloved Yankees. George was all about winning. Hell is all about just making the playoffs and earning a profit. He’s a wimp. Hank would’ve made a MUCH greater owner, and at least would’ve made George proud. Hell is no better than Jimmy and Jeanie Buss,or Mark Davis of the Raiders. Just kids trying to live up to their parents greatness, and failing oh so badly at it.
Sign Trevor Bauer.
Cole and Bauer can’t co-exist in the same clubhouse. They hate one another.
Tough, you’re grown @ss adults. Suck it up and I’m sure if he helps bring in a championship, hatred goes away a bit. Or is able to look passed.
Mariners will trade you Luis Castillo for Volpe, Peraza, Dominguez, and your next three first round picks.
Sign Trevor Bauer
@Yankee Clipper
It’s gonna be Schmidtty, right?
I think it will be German, honestly. I’m not sure why they shy away from letting Schmidt start, but I think a clear role of SP would help him develop in the majors better.
Yankees tend to do what the Yankees have tended to do…
Let Clarke go! Shoot, 1st round pick, 95+ heater, 26 years old, nice 3 pitch repertoire. All he did in the minors was strike guys out I’ve been waiting for them to give him a run and see what happens
Well it definitely can’t be Bauer.
Relax. July 31st is a ways away.
I do think they will make a trade or two. I don’t see this current roster being the same as August.
Cole, Rodon, Sevy, and Cortes give the Yanks the luxury of trying out for the 5th spot. German, Schmidt, Krook, Gil, Brito, and Vasquez could win the job. If need be they can get a pitcher at the deadline.
Krook is the only one who has any MLB innings (out of the minors guys). But I am excited to see what Matt Sauer does this year. He seemed to takes some big steps forward last season.
Krook could be a steal for some team if the Yankees trade him.
Yeah he pitched decently too. I was surprised the kept using Weber last season and didn’t give Krook some extra innings. He may do pretty well. I thought it was a good move when they got him from the Rays.
Krook’s 5 bb/9 probably won’t play too well starting at the MLB level. Same issue that Gil has. If they get any meaningful starts from prospects it will probably be Vasquez or Brito. Warren is a darkhorse.
It would help the Yankees in multiple ways if they traded Josh Donaldson to the Dbacks straight up for Madison Bumgarner. Donaldson’s luxury tax number is $25M. Bumgarner’s luxury tax number is $16.6M, although their actual salaries are almost exactly equal. Bumgarner gives the Yankees a veteran arm for the back end of their rotation. D.J. LaMaheiu can take over 3b. Donaldson’s big contract is gone.
Dbacks already have Rojas Longoria and riveras at 3B
Fraham
But Bumgarner is blocking 4 young stud starting pitchers (Ryne Nelson, Drey Jameson, Tommy Henry and Brandon Pfaadt) from getting development innings this year and next.
And the Dbacks don’t have a designated DH so they could work all those bats into the lineup.
For the Dbacks, it’s addition by subtraction.
Gurriel, Thomas, McCarthy, Carroll, Lewis gives then 5 OFers that will surely take up DH at bats along with the 3B and possibly whichever catcher isn’t playing. Gallen, Kelly, Bumgarner are the only locked in starters so plenty of room for young guys.
They’re not crossing the Cohen tax line.
Fraham
The outfield is LH Carroll, McCarthy and Thomas against right handed pitching, and RH Gurriel, Lewis and alternating Carroll and McCarthy against left handed pitching. The young LH OF need more carefully monitored experience against same hand pitching, so RH bats like Donaldson would help that process so the Dbacks aren’t forced to use those 3 against same side pitching in 2023.
The bench though already has 4 set guys between 2 of the 3B, one OFer, and the catcher plus possibly Pavin smith or Perdomo. They’re not gonna add on to a 4/5 man bench without swapping someone out.
YankeesBleacher
They’d drop -$8.5 M below their current luxury tax number.
Fraham
You’re right that it creates a bit more of a roster crunch, but they already have a roster crunch, so adding a power RH bat like Donaldson’s is actually a nice problem!
Right now 3b is a time share between LH Josh Rojas and RH Evan Longoria. Emmanuel Rivera is almost certainly ticketed for AAA Reno. DH right now is a time share between RH Evan Longoria, Lourdes Gurriel, Kyle Lewis and maybe LH Pavin Smith.
If the Dbacks traded Bumgarner for Donaldson, I could easily see another trade to ease that logjam, and there would be some valuable trade chips.
I like it. It seems to make a lot of sense to me.
Yankee Clipper
It gives the Yankees ~$8.5M breathing room under the next level luxury tax if they wanted to make another move/signing.
And if I were the Dback’s GM, I’d be willing to throw in Rivera or Longoria as replacement 3b
Does MadBum have a no-trade clause? I doubt he wants to shave his beard.
all in the suit
MadBum can block trades to only 5 teams. Don’t know who those teams are?
You know his reputation for performance in the pressure cooker of the Playoffs and WS. I think he’d thrive in New York.
As much as I’d like to get rid of Donaldson and his contract, he’s still a plus defender. If pitching coaches Lawson, (I had to delete the name of an assistant hitting coach in deference to the auto-censor) and the newly-added Wilkerson can get more out of Donaldson at the plate, despite last year’s struggles against velocity, Donaldson can still contribute something, at least off the bench. I’d much rather play DJ or IKF at third, but we don’t know if DJ can stay healthy, and if Cabrera ends up taking the left fielder job, IKF could be needed as their utility player.
Bumgarner hasn’t been good since 2019, and his troubles with the long ball would be worrisome in Yankee Stadium, although being a southpaw could help him keep balls out of the short porch. Worse, the Yankees would be on the hook for $14M in 2024, whereas they’ll only owe Donaldson $6M.
Gotta say no to this trade idea. I give you credit, though, for some creative thinking. I’ve certainly heard worse proposals.
The playoffs nowadays does not really encourage teams to have the best record, only that they get hot near the playoffs. Even if they traded for someone now, there is no guarantee that the player wouldn’t be injured.
Cashman just needs to delete Oakland GM from his phone
LOL
Block him and call forward to a Wendy’s.
If they won’t go above 293, the trade deadline is sure to disappoint. Stand pat or sell with only 500K to spend.
The Yankees, no matter how much they spend, seem to be unable to construct a balanced, healthy roster. That’s on Cashman. He’s not the nincompoop some commenters think, but he’s overpaid on trades and made some serious errors of judgment when it comes to buying players with injury histories. The Yankees need fresh thinking.
Agreed perhaps why Sabean and minaya are here?
Can anyone tell me about Adrian houser? I’d love to see the yanks pull a trade for a depth starter long reliever type. What would it take? Would the brew crew take say 3 guys in a package of something like IKF or Aaron Hicks with say Deivi Garcia & Estevan florial or Ben rortvedt? Keeping salaries about the same? the yanks shed a little with one of the vets but immediately take it back with the addition. I say these guys like rortvedt because he is blocked and the yanks have a catching prospect on the way, Garcia had promise but a change of scenery may help florial Is out of options and cabrera most likely has him beat
You’re having a laugh, correct? All five of those cast-offs you mention wouldn’t be enough for Adrian Houser, who is actually a very quality pitcher.
As I stated I dont know much about houser except that he has been around a few years is 30 years old and lost double digits last year. Looking up only his wins, losses and Era he seems like the typical 4th or 5th starter type similar to a Jordan Lyles, cole Irvin or yusei Kikuchi type. In other words expendable only a innings eater. As for the players I named on the yankees I understand they not big names and don’t carry a lot of weight but potentially could serve as role or depth pieces. Ikf is what he is light hitting but should bat 240-250 and give good Defense as a utility player, Estevan florial could be a ok player never has really been given a long opportunity but is out of options, Garcia has potential and is still young perhaps he can find it again and is a wildcard project. Rortevdt is strictly AAA depth but offers good Defense and really is a unknown. If houser is a stud pitcher then NY could always add another player of substance to sweeten the deal again these players listed were suggested as filler for a expendable part a old-fashioned baseball trade of sorts
My bad, I was getting Eric Lauer and Adrian Houser mixed up. If I were the Yankees, Lauer looks a lot more enticing than Houser.
I still have an irrational desire to sign Archer because of how he used to beat on us (phrasing) a few years ago.
Bad move, right?
Amazing when you think of all the prospects traded last season for benintendi , montas and efross and how little production recieved in return .
Jp sears & Ken waldichuk could be useful right now
Cashman is a bum. Nothing changes until Hal sells the team and Cashman is fired.
The Yankees are the Dallas Cowboys of MLB.
Can you picture Judge hopping into the Salvation Army kettle?
Where could they possibly another PED cheater who gave them 8 starts down the stretch with 1 win and a 6.35 ERA? Of course they don’t want to replace THAT. Yeesh.
Never fails. Year in, year out, the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Lakers, and New York Yankees are the most overrated teams in professional sports.
It would be funny if it weren’t so incredibly lame.
The Yankees will go buy someone. Come on.
Its the Yankees! They should call the Tigers about Spencer Turnbull like SB Nation suggested today, or Eduardo Rodriguez (if he ever shows up). Ship off Austin Wells and Andres Chaparro. They can send Donaldson too and that non-Volpe kid who plays shortstop (Yankees dontvwant him anywY right ) or the Aaron Judge clone (Spencer Jones) they drafted last year instead. Add some more pieces from Detroit’s end too.
“We are not considering trades at this time. We will of course continue to monitor the market so that should the need arise to augment our roster, we will be in a strong position to panic and overpay for the third best available starter, who will immediately break down and require surgery”
The Yankees don’t need to make a move till the mid season trade line. A lot will shake out now till then.