It’s safe to say that Frankie Montas has been a disaster for the New York Yankees. After coming over from the Oakland Athletics, Montas went 1-3 in eight starts with an ERA of 6.35. Currently, Montas is slated to miss most of this season due to a shoulder injury. The earliest he can return is toward the end of the season. However, the trade hasn’t been a complete failure as the Yankees got the most success from the “throw-in” relief pitcher Lou Trivino.
The Trade Was All About Frankie Montas
Heading into the trade deadline last season, the Yankees recognized their rotation needed more depth. After Reds pitcher Luis Castillo was traded to the Mariners, the Yankees pivoted to trading for Oakland Athletics starter Frankie Montas. Despite Oakland’s porous offense, Montas had a season ERA of 3.18.
The Yankees gave up four prospects for Montas. Two of the Yankees’ prospects were ranked inside their top ten in pitchers Ken Waldichuk and Luis Medina. While not a top-ten prospect, JP Sears had seen time in the show appearing in seven games and making two starts. Sears had a promising stint in New York going 3-0 with an ERA of 2.05. The Athletics would also throw in reliever Lou Trivino to complete the deal. Many writers liked the Yankees’ acquisition of Frankie Montas and thought the pairing would be perfect.
The Frankie Montas Disaster
Montas made his long-awaited first start for the Yankees against the St. Louis Cardinals. His first start proved to be a sign of things to come for his time with the Yankees. He only lasted three innings, giving up six runs on five hits including a home run while walking three. He would also only strike out two batters. Out of all eight of his starts as a Yankee, there were just two games where Montas gave up less than three runs. While he didn’t appear in the ALDS, Montas would pitch an inning in the ALCS against Houston giving up one run on a home run.
This offseason, initial reports said that Frankie Montas would have to miss all of April due to a shoulder injury. Recently, the Yankees received the bad news that Montas would miss most of this season due to that same shoulder injury. The earliest Montas could come back is toward the end of the season. This is basically a season-ending injury. Frankie Montas is slated to be a free agent at the end of this season, and I doubt the Yankees will re-sign him. Montas has in effect been a bust for the Yankees.
The Quiet Success of Lou Trivino
While the issues with Montas have been grabbing the headlines, reliever Lou Trivino has quietly been the most successful. It was Trivino who saved this deal from becoming a complete disaster last season. When this trade was made, Trivino was seen as a “throw-in” reliever. Trivino was once the Athletics closer, however, he lost it in August after struggling for three outings in a row. Prior to coming to New York, Trivino had been having an awful individual season. In 39 games, he was 1-6 with an ERA of 6.47. However, he did have a solid FIP of 3.83. This perhaps intrigued the Yankees enough to acquire him as well. It’s hard to measure how successful or unsuccessful Athletics pitchers really are with very little run support.
After coming over from Oakland, Trivino completely turned his season around. In 25 appearances for the Yankees, he went 1-2 with an ERA of 1.66. He also registered an even more stellar FIP of 3.34. His opponents were also only batting .222 and had an OPS of .607 when he was on the mound. He even only gave up just one home run after he came over to New York. He stepped up big time for the Yankees after another trade acquisition Scott Effross was lost for the season.
Lou Trivino did so well in the second half for the Yankees that he was included on their postseason roster. He would appear in two games both in the ALDS and ALCS allowing only two hits without giving up a run while striking out four hitters. It’s safe to say that Trivino completely blew away the Yankees’ initial expectations.
How the Yankees Changed Trivino’s Use
The Yankees have two more seasons of team control if they desire before Trivino becomes a free agent in 2025. In the second half of the 2022 season, Trivino became somewhat of a righty specialist and proved to be very effective at it. Right-handed hitters only hit .171 and had an OPS of just .493 whenever they faced Trivino.
The Yankees Got More Then They Bargained for in Lou Trivino
When the deal was made, Lou Trivino was considered an afterthought. He was essentially just another player to accompany the headliner, which was Frankie Montas. However, Trivino ended up having the success that Frankie Montas was expected to have. In 2023, Lou Trivino could potentially provide great depth to an already solid Yankees bullpen.
While Frankie Montas was the headliner and expected to be a key arm for the Yankees; it was Lou Trivino who became that key pitcher. Frankie Montas’s failures have been Lou Trivino’s successes. While the fans and writers have been dwelling on the failure of Frankie Montas; they forget that Lou Trivino has provided a silver lining. He proved to be the diamond found in the rough.
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