Former New York Yankees starting pitcher Frankie Montas (47) Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Reds sign former top-10 AL Cy Young Award finalist

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated 12/30/23

The Cincinnati Reds are signing former New York Yankees pitcher Frankie Montas to a one-year deal, according to multiple reports. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported that the deal is worth $16 million, with potential incentives on top of that.

Frankie Montas has agreed to a one-year, $16 million deal with the Reds, per source. deal also includes incentives. @JonHeyman was on it.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) December 30, 2023

The Yankees acquired Montas and reliever Lou Trivino from the Oakland Athletics at the 2022 trade deadline, but the deal did not work out for New York. Montas made just nine appearances for the Yankees, posting a 6.15 ERA before missing virtually the entire 2023 season after undergoing shoulder surgery.

The 30-year-old still has a previous track record of success in five and a half seasons with Oakland, where he put together a 3.80 ERA and finished sixth in AL Cy Young voting in 2021.

It's unusual for the Reds to spend large sums of money, but there is little risk in a one-year commitment. Under the best-case scenario, Montas will be fully healthy and effective, perhaps allowing the Reds to get something of value for him in a trade.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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