The Cincinnati Reds actively pursued a reunion with Sonny Gray during the recent offseason, but he eventually signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. Gray, a strong contender for the American League Cy Young Award last season, would have undoubtedly bolstered the Reds’ struggling starting rotation. Despite their limited financial resources, the Reds were clearly prioritizing rotation improvement.
Although they missed out on acquiring Gray, the Reds did secure Frankie Montas at a more affordable cost, considering the uncertainties surrounding his shoulder during the 2023 season. If Montas returns to form, as current indications suggest, the Reds might have made a significant steal in the offseason.
Before being traded to the New York Yankees in the summer of 2022, Montas had established himself as a top-tier starter with the Oakland Athletics. From the beginning of the 2021 season until his trade in July 2022, he ranked as the 14th most valuable starting pitcher in the league, boasting 5.9 fWAR (among qualified pitchers). This performance placed him just behind Cincinnati’s own Luis Castillo, who ranked 13th with 6.0 fWAR. Montas outperformed notable pitchers like Lucas Giolito, Charlie Morton, and Jordan Montgomery.
Frankie Montas on the mound for his spring debut‼️ pic.twitter.com/IfndmmFoIW
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) February 27, 2024
If the Reds indeed acquired the version of Montas that demonstrated such prowess before his shoulder issues, they secured an excellent bargain. Moreover, they added a player who could potentially match or surpass the performance of Gray, now the ace for a division rival.
Cubs starting lineup today:
Happ, LF
Swanson, SS
Morel, 3B
Hoerner, 2B
Tauchman, CF
Gomes, C
Wisdom, 1B
Canario, RF
Triantos, DHHendricks on the bump.
— CHGO Cubs (@CHGO_Cubs) February 27, 2024
Frankie Montas is set to make his debut for the Reds in Cactus League play against the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, with the game starting at 3:05 PM ET. For those with MLB.tv access, the game is available to watch through the Cubs’ feed. Here’s to the beginning of a promising chapter!
