The New York Yankees made a big move during the 2022 trade deadline when they acquired Frankie Montas.
The former Oakland Athletics pitcher has consistently been a reliable arm.
However, his move to New York was not smooth.
In eight starts, Montas posted a 6.15 ERA and struggled to get outs.
While he showed glimpses of what made him dominant in Oakland, he just never seemed to put it together in 2022.
Now, with a full year in pinstripes ahead of him, Montas finds himself being an important piece of this Yankees rotation.
2. Montas Provides Depth
Following the Carlos Rodon signing, Montas heads into 2023 as the team’s fifth rotation arm.
When looking at his career numbers, including his 3.37 ERA in 2021 and 2.63 in 2019, he has the potential to be one of the best end-of-the-rotation options in baseball.
Obviously, this past season with the Yankees left a bad taste in many fans’ mouths.
However, there is reason to hope that Montas can return to form.
Frankie Montas is DEALING through 4 pic.twitter.com/KOTG69Laz8
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 4, 2022
Even if he is just alright, he will give the Yankees much-needed rotation depth that makes them even more dominant.
They could ultimately have five pitchers that have all competed for a Cy Young award.
Few other teams come close to that depth.
1. High Ceiling
While Montas is currently labeled as the fifth starter, he has an astronomically high ceiling.
There is no reason why he couldn’t become one of the better pitchers in this rotation.
Pete Alonso snaps his bat over his knee after Frankie Montas strikes him out pic.twitter.com/0cA6AhAcq6
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) August 24, 2022
He has the stuff needed to be an ace, and the experience of doing it in Oakland.
This would be the exact boost that the Yankees could need for a World Series.
If he returns to form, there is no reason that the Yankees wouldn’t have the best rotation in all of baseball.
Because of this high ceiling, Montas needs to have a strong 2023 to push the Yankees pitching to another level.
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