I have questions, like what? And why?

That's an ... interesting ... move.

The Yankees needed pitching depth and seemed to have obtained it with Montas, Trivino and Effross. To turn around now and subtract Montgomery in favor of the injured Bader makes no sense - unless there's a deal for another pitcher that hasn't yet been announced. Seems like an inexplicable move by Cashman and a smart trade by the Cardinals, who need starters and will provide great defense for a groundball pitcher.
Is Montas and his lifetime 4.34 ERA outside of Oakland Coliseum an upgrade over Monty? At the cost of all NYY's best minor league pitching prospects?

Another unexpected trade is Raisel Iglesias to the Braves. The Angels only signed him last offseason and he has 3/$48 left. He's having kind of a rough year although I guess the FIP is OK. Not the sort of deal I expect the Braves to make -- they traded away Kimbrel rather than pay him this sort of money. Maybe the Angels are picking up some money or the Braves are confident they can move Iglesias in the offseason.

Merrifield to the Jays apparently.

EDIT: Holy crap, just realized ... Merrifield to the Jays!!!!!

I'm not that sold on Montgomery ever being more than a #4 starter, and I can see the deal from a standpoint of potential upside, but right now the Yankees need starting pitching more than they need a backup outfielder who won't be able to play until late August at the earliest.

OTOH any day that Joey Gallo gets sent 3000 miles away has to be marked as a net positive.

Not sure what the Yanks are up to. Assuming he's back soon, Bader is a pretty nice fit for them although I wonder if maybe they haven't liked what they've seen up close of Benintendi. Montgomery is nothing special but doesn't this put German into the rotation full-time for the last two months or is there somebody waiting in the wings? Hicks has been hitting better and gotten himself up to average overall. Maybe they think Stanton is done for the season or at least they have brought themselves around to the notion that he must never set foot in the OF again.

I'm not that sold on Montgomery ever being more than a #4 starter, and I can see the deal from a standpoint of potential upside, but right now the Yankees need starting pitching more than they need a backup outfielder who won't be able to play until late August at the earliest.

They've got a 12 game lead, they don't need pitching depth as much as they need a CF.

doesn't this put German into the rotation full-time for the last two months or is there somebody waiting in the wings?

They've got Cole, Montas, Cortes, and Taillon. German and Schmidt will have to fill in until Severino is back.

They've got a 12 game lead, they don't need pitching depth as much as they need a CF.

Bader is on the DL with Plantar Fascitis, his entire game is based almost entirely on speed. It seems a bit risky at a minimum, unless reports of him recovering is pretty good. If Bader is Bader after he returns, and considering he's locked up for pretty much nothing ($5.2mil) next season it's a good enough risk to take if you can afford giving up a guy who has also one season and is a career 108 era+ (and his era = fip so you kinda assume that it's fairly logical that it's pretty much his talent level) then it seems worth it.

I'm fine with what the Cardinals did here, I think both team have reasons to be happy. I think Bader has the higher potential value, but Montgomery has the higher guarantee consistency.

Montgomery (tie)leads the league in games started, that is something that really appeals to the Cardinals.


We get two league average starting pitchers (Quintana/Montgomery) Quintana is a one season rental, Montgomery is locked in for another season. We gave up Bader (who has one more season to go) Oviedo and Nunez... Both Oviedo and Nunez had high upside, especially Nunez, but he was also blocked at his position three deep. (Arenado/Gorman/Walker)
I'm fine with this, basically our rotation is now 1 ace pitcher (Mikolas) a solid number 2 (Waino) Solid number threes (Quintana/Montgomery) with Pallente and Hudson for the number five, both capable of being solid threes (and Pallante has performed better than that so far this year, but that is above his expected ceiling so you have to assume some return to earth after scouting reports start getting more detailed)
Our centerfield is an issue going forward as I'm not a huge fan of Carlson's defense out there, it's above average but it's not elite.

You might have missed it Snapper but the Yahks moved Severino to the 60-day IL, back mid-Sept at the earliest. Now they won't really need him for the playoffs unless one of the top 4 gets hurt. If Bader was healthy right now, I could kinda see the deal; if he's not back until late Aug and a question mark even then, it's a pretty odd deal.

You might have missed it Snapper but the Yahks moved Severino to the 60-day IL, back mid-Sept at the earliest. Now they won't really need him for the playoffs unless one of the top 4 gets hurt. If Bader was healthy right now, I could kinda see the deal; if he's not back until late Aug and a question mark even then, it's a pretty odd deal.

I did miss that move on Severino, but I don't think Bader being healthy now matters. The question is will he be healthy for the playoffs. If so, he adds more than Montgomery. If not, then they miscalculated.

The Yankees apparently don’t want the wear & tear on Aaron Judge that would come from his continuing to play CF, and must not be that happy with Aaron Hicks or impressed by his .890 July OPS. Cole, Taillion, Cortes, Montas, German, Schmidt, and eventually Severino should be enough pitching, but I’ve heard you can never have too much. Weird trade, but probably not a huge impact.

I don't think Bader is hurt that bad. It felt like he just wanted to go from 90% to 100%. Cards always won more with him in lineup. Great defense - he's a nice fit for yanks

Clapper is right that the Yankees are no doubt concerned about the wear and tear on Aaron Judge for playing CF but then why not, you know, trade for someone who is actually physically able to play CF during the month of August?

for better or for worse, either the Yankees don't care about the No. 1 seed over Houston - or they think that a rusty German is just as good as Montgomery as 5th starter.

hmm

meanwhile Severino today publicly expressed how pissed he is to go on 60-day IL when he says he's nearly healthy. he knows that being out til mid-September means not only that he doesn't start any postseason games, but will be even be on the active roster for the playoffs?

for better or for worse, either the Yankees don't care about the No. 1 seed over Houston - or they think that a rusty German is just as good as Montgomery as 5th starter.

Top 2 get byes, right? So, the #1 seed is nice, but nothing critical. I also can't imagine Montgomery vs. German/Schmidt can't be more than half a win of value, or so.

a rusty German

Sounds like a drink made with schnapps.

Sounds like a drink made with schnapps.

Hmmm, a Rusty Nail is scotch and drambuie, how about scotch and peach schnapps?

This move is about 2023 to a large extent, right?

So, the #1 seed is nice, but nothing critical.

the Yankees do not seem fond of playing baseball in Houston....

the Yankees do not seem fond of playing baseball in Houston....

If they can't figure it out, they deserve to go home early. Anyone who blames losing on home-field advantage has a loser's mentality.

he knows that being out til mid-September means not only that he doesn't start any postseason games, but will be even be on the active roster for the playoffs?

Why wouldn't he start in the playoffs, he'll have had a few minor league appearances at that point in time and a about 3-4 major league starts (He comes back September 14th). Only reason he doesn't start in the playoffs is if the Yankees have better options, which is likely, but that isn't anything to get upset about.

well, Severino IS upset about it - regardless whether anyone on the internet has granted him such permission

:)

So how many home runs does Bader hit in the next week? Five?

So how many home runs does Bader hit in the next week? Five?

If I was a betting man, 0, he's still wearing a boot for his feet and will probably need a couple of minor league starts when he does get it removed in a week or two.

I have plantar fascitis. It's a weird thing. It can just totally disappear as fast as it come on.

I have plantar fascitis. It's a weird thing. It can just totally disappear as fast as it come on.

Do the exercise where you pick up and drop the dice with your toes, and the calf-strech thingy against the wall where you raise your heel. And the tennis ball roll. I thought mine was hopeless, but those eventually zapped it. And yep the zapping was definitely a pleasant surprise. Hasn't come back either, which is kind of shocking.

Do the exercise where you pick up and drop the dice with your toes, and the calf-strech thingy against the wall where you raise your heel. And the tennis ball roll. I thought mine was hopeless, but those eventually zapped it. And yep the zapping was definitely a pleasant surprise. Hasn't come back either, which is kind of shocking.

At first those exercises worked, but the last time they made it worse. The things that worked were advil, and a spiky mat under my feet when I sit.

@DPLennon
Jordan Montgomery with Cardinals:

4 GS (4-0)
24.2 IP
0.35 ERA
0.623 WHIP
3 BB
24 SO
.149 OBA

Joey Gallo with the Dodgers.

.267/.371/.667/1.038 180 OPS+, 3 HR

Are you his agent?

Don't be absurd, I just have a serious man-crush on him.

Love, love, love seeing the Yankees trade away guys who then are exactly what they needed while they were in a slump. Sadly the Yankees might be coming out of it now with 2 wins in a row. Sigh.

Sadly the Yankees might be coming out of it now with 2 wins in a row. Sigh.

It’s three wins in a row. All by a 4-2 score.