Mariners Trade Proposal: Oakland Athletics and Frankie Montas

It came out early in the offseason that Oakland would likely be looking to rebuild and retool their team with young talent and prospects. The Mariners could look to call and ask about the availability of Frankie Montas, amongst others like Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, Chris Bassitt, and Sean Manaea, after hearing the comments from the Athletics GM, David Frost.

“This is the cycle for the A’s. We have to listen and be open to whatever comes out of this. This is our lot in Oakland until it’s not.”

Trading in the division is always funky. You don’t want to send a guy to a team you are going to have to potentially face on the mound four times in a season, nor would you want to see him at the plate for 19 games. On the flip side, you wouldn’t want to replenish a rival’s farm system. Both sides are wary, but I don’t think it actually has that large of an impact on changing the return that a team would get. You find value and execute the deal for the greatest return.

We’ve come to a FanSided deal with the Mariners and Athletics for Frankie Montas

I wanted to see what kind of value Montas might have, so I reached out to the Call to the Pen group. They help out with White Cleat Beat and worked with me on coming to a deal. After a bit of back and forth, this is what we came up with. Again, this is solely between the sites, and how we came up with it.

It seems like there are differing opinions on the 29-year-old Frankie Montas. Some people aren’t very high on him. It’s why it makes doing these proposal articles difficult sometimes. Here’s what I see when I look at him. A pitcher that seems to be entering into his prime with a nice strikeout rate (10K/9), a very nice ERA and FIP (3.37). His control was actually decent last year (2.7 BB/9), and he went deep into games, throwing 187 innings in his 32 starts.

The hardest part of making this deal was Evan White. Call to the Pen wanted him, so I acquiesced. I love the guy, but I have no idea how to value him, if he’s gonna turn it around, and it clears a spot for the Mariners. If he goes to Oakland and plays well, it’s a loss.

You know what though? Montas solidifies the Mariners rotation and greatly increases the team’s ceiling for 2022. Is it a bit of short-term thinking to give up White and Deloach for Montas? Possibly… and probably. I’m tired of watching the Mariners lose, and want them to give up a bit of that capital they’ve built up to shove that 2022 window open.

How do you value Montas? Do you see that potential for a strong 2/3 starter? Or does the limited experience worry you? Let us know, and GO MARINERS!