One of the biggest moves of the 2022 MLB trade deadline was a trade between the Yankees and Athletics, where the Athletics sent RHP Frankie Montas and RHP Lou Trivino to the Yankees in exchange for LHP Ken Waldichuk (#5 prospect in the NYY system), RHP Luis Medina (#12 prospect in the NYY system), LHP JP Sears (#21 prospect in the NYY system), and INF Cooper Bowman. Not only did this move impact the Yankees and Athletics, but it also directly impacted many other teams directly in the process.

For the Yankees

With Montas, the Yankees are acquiring a borderline ace who has toiled for half the season with the Vegas Athletics. Thus far, Montas has pitched incredibly well, putting up a 3.35 FIP, 3.21 xFIP, 3.42 SIERA, 19.1 K-BB%, and a 2.0 fWAR. These numbers suggest that his 3.18 ERA he is currently boasting is relatively sustainable in the long run. Montas also gets plenty of ground balls, carrying a 46.1 GB% thus far in the 2022 season. Montas is one of two pitchers who have a GB% over 46% and a K% over 26% (minimum 100.0 IP).

what makes Montas so good?

What makes Montas so great is his variety of pitches, and his ability to throw them in all counts. Montas has three pitches that register to be above average according to baseball savant run value. I would argue Montas could be even more effective if he mixed his cutter in a bit more than the 9.2% of the time (his current cutter usage). Montas is a guy who’s pitches help immensely with quality of contact while simultaneously having the ability to strike batters out at well above average rates. He will slot in nicely as the Yankees’ No. 2 starter for this season as well as next.

Possibly Elite Potential

Additionally, the Yankees added a reliever–Lou Trivino. Trivino has pitched to incredibly poor results this season (6.34 ERA), but very good peripheral numbers (2.84 SIERA, 20.1 K-BB%), while also being able to induce ground balls (53.7%) at a very comforting rate. Trivino’s best pitch is his slider, which registered at a -1.51 xRV, which he only throws 17.2% of the time. If Trivino becomes a predominantly sinker/slider type pitcher, I truly believe he can become one of the stronger relief pitchers in the American League.

For the Athletics

In this trade, the Athletics acquired LHP Ken Waldichuk (#5 prospect in the NYY system), RHP Luis Medina (#12 prospect in the NYY system), LHP JP Sears (#21 prospect in the NYY system), and INF Cooper Bowman. Many thought the prospect headliner would be NYY’s #2 prospect SS Oswald Peraza, but the Yankees were adamant on Waldichuk being the centerpiece in this deal. This is not at all an indictment on Waldichuk, rather a realistic look at where the Yankees need help right now at the big league level, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa still getting everyday opportunities at shortstop.

Ken Waldichuk

Ken Waldichuk, a former fifth round pick by the Yankees, has been fantastic over his last two minor league seasons, but really took a step forward in 2022, where he had a 41.1 K% in 28.2 AA innings, and a 34.0 K% in 47.2 AAA innings. He can struggle with control, but considering the amount of hitters he strikes out, it is hard to care as much as one would with a pitcher like Medina. Waldichuk’s best pitch is his changeup, which profiles to be an elite pitch. Fangraphs has him at a 50 FV, though I think I would bump him up considering his recent success and elite stuff. He may not light up the radar gun on a per-start basis like Medina, but Waldichuk’s fastball is undoubtedly a plus pitch as well, to pair with his changeup. His curveball is a work in progress, but his sweeping slider is incredibly strong. The release on both breaking balls, and especially the unique angle he throws his slider and curveball at that, both get plus sweep and plus depth. This would allow Waldichuk to rely primarily on three pitches a be very good No. 2 starter.

JP Sears

JP Sears has already shown quite a bit at the MLB level, pitching to great results over his limited sample size in the Bronx. Sears’ potential lies with his fastball, which has a true spin rate of 2089 and a VAA of -3.7 which is elite for any fastball. I do wonder if he finds a home in the backend of a bullpen due to his deadly fastball changeup combination, though I believe with the development of a legitimate third pitch, Sears can be a staple in Oakland’s (or Vegas’) rotation for years to come.

Luis Medina

Luis Medina is an absolute fireballer, touching 102 MPH on his 4-seamer in games. His primary issue lies with control, as he’s walked 13.0% of the batters he has faced in 2022. The 23 year old Medina is another guy who I think may find a home in the backend of a bullpen due to his deadly fastball yet erratic control of the zone. He did however, have one of the highest ceilings of any prospect in the Yankees system, and does in Oakland’s revamped system. The hope is that he can develop to his full potential and become a front-line starter for years to come.

Cooper Bowman

Cooper Bowman is the biggest question mark in this deal. Not initially ranked in the Yankees’ top 30 prospects, Bowman is considered to be somewhat light-hitting. The JUCO/Louisville product is known more for his contact skills and running ability rather than raw power, yet stil has a max exit velocity of north of 112 MPH. Bowman has potential to amount to a solid bat in the infield, but he undoubtedly has the lowest ceiling out of the players moved in this deal.

Ripple Effect & Conclusion

Part of the ripple effect that this trade caused was for the Cardinals to finally find a pitcher, acquiring LHP Jordan Montgomery from the Yankees in exchange for OF Harrison Bader. This deal undoubtedly would not have happened if the Yankees did not acquire Montas on the day prior, even while the Yankees were incredibly close to acquiring RHP Pablo López from the Marlins, but that’s a story for another day. Overall, the Yankees did extremely well in this deal, acquiring a borderline elite starter with control, and a reliever with the makings to be elite with plenty of team control. However, the Athletics by no means got fleeced in this deal. Waldichuk is one of the more underrated pitching prospects in the game, while Medina has a lively arm and Sears is already proven to be a solid starter with an underrated fastball.

Grades:

Yankees: A

Athletics: B+