The Cardinals are acquiring lefty Jordan Montgomery from the Yankees, tweet Ken Rosenthal and Lindsey Adler of The Athletic. Montgomery will be traded for Harrison Bader, reports Jack Curry of the YES Network. The trade, which has been officially announced by both teams, also includes a player to be named later or cash considerations going to the Yankees, conditional on Bader’s playing time as it pertains to the plantar fasciitis that sidelines him at present.
Montgomery, 29, is a big addition to the Cardinals’ rotation. The lefty, a fourth-round draft pick of the Yankees out of the University of South Carolina in 2014, finished sixth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting with a fine 2017 debut, but saw his career derailed by Tommy John surgery the following season. Since 2021, he’s settled in as a dependable member of the Yankees’ rotation, posting a 3.77 ERA in 272 innings across 51 starts. While Montgomery’s strikeout rate has been down this year, so too has his walk rate, and he’s continued to keep his ERA south of 4.00.
Montgomery is earning a reasonable $6MM this year, and he’s due a raise through arbitration in 2023 before becoming eligible for free agency. He was not necessarily thought to be available, but the Yankees just added Frankie Montas to the front of their rotation in a trade with the A’s. Montgomery fits in well with the Cardinals’ pitch-to-contact rotation, which currently features Adam Wainwright, Miles Mikolas, Dakota Hudson, rookie Andre Pallante, and recent addition Jose Quintana. Steven Matz, signed as a free agent in November, is out with a knee injury that could require surgery. Former ace Jack Flaherty won’t be eligible to return from a shoulder strain until late August. Looking ahead to 2023, Adam Wainwright may retire and Quintana could depart as a free agent, but everyone else remains under team control.
At present, the Cardinals sit three games back in the NL Central and are one game back from a wild card spot. In addition to Quintana and Montgomery, the Cardinals also added Chris Stratton to their bullpen via trade. The club reportedly expressed interest in many available starters before landing Montgomery, including Frankie Montas, Jake Odorizzi, Tyler Mahle, and Carlos Rodon. Bader hit the IL for plantar fasciitis in his right foot in late June, with Dylan Carlson starting in center field in his absence. Bader is currently in a walking boot for the injury. Evidently, the Cardinals felt Carlson can handle the gig for at least the remainder of the season. The Cardinals had been involved on Juan Soto, but reportedly hadn’t been willing to pair Carlson with their top prospects.
Bader, 28, is a native of Bronxville, New York, about 11 miles away from Yankee Stadium. He’s served as the Cardinals’ primary center fielder since 2018, when he finished sixth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. Known for his defense, Bader picked up his first Gold Glove last year and finished second in the Fielding Bible awards voting. Bader’s wRC+ sits at 93 this year, but he was at 111 over 526 plate appearances from 2020-21. Bader, one of the speedier center fielders in the game, was limited to 103 games in 2021 due to a forearm strain and a rib fracture.
The Yankees have deployed the oft-injured Aaron Hicks as well as MVP frontrunner Aaron Judge in equal proportions in center field thus far this year. Once Bader and Giancarlo Stanton are healthy, Hicks figures to see his playing time reduced. The Yankees also recently added a new left fielder via trade, picking up Andrew Benintendi from the Royals.
Like Montgomery, Bader is under control through 2023. However, due to a two-year extension signed in April, Bader’s salary was locked in at $4.7MM for both the 2022 and ’23 seasons, plus performance bonuses. The Yankees will trim several million dollars off next year’s payroll compared to what Montgomery is projected to earn.
In parting with Montgomery, the Yankees have weakened their rotation for the remainder of the 2021 season, seemingly locking Domingo German into the fifth spot until Luis Severino is able to return. With a 12-game lead in the AL East, that difference hardly matters. Montgomery’s loss could be felt in the playoffs, especially if Severino isn’t able to build back up to a starting role, but evidently the Yankees feel the eventual defensive upgrade in center field is a net win. The decision has, at least, elicited some “head-scratching” within the Yankees’ organization, according to Erik Boland of Newsday.
This deadline is bonkers.
For bader.
For bader or worse…
How’s the plantar fasciitis?
Still an issue..
For the Yankees!
Dumb move on bader. His foot issues are huge. Ask Greg bird and Luke voit. And, they weakened their pitching staff.
Dumb move on bader. His foot issues are huge. Ask Greg bird and Luke voit. And, they weakened their pitching staff. Dumb.
It must be bad because usually a shot of cortisone and a shot of tordal does the trick. I know I have plantar faschitis and this is how I’m treated. The shots with foot exercises usually work for me and I can go about my day. I’m guessing that the ligament in the foot is severely inflamed and constricted. You fix that through either steroid shots, therapy and rest, or surgery. Sounds like surgery soon to me for Bader.,
I don’t think Bader is playing again this year. In a walking boot after a setback in rehab.
We will definitely miss Bader in St Louis. We had an elite defense with O’Neill, Bader and Carlson.
@Francy01- We will definitely miss Monty in New York. One thing about him he will go out there every 5th day and give you his best. Cardinal fans will love this guy. Taillon is one of Monty’s best friend’s on the Yankees is crushed he’s gone. Good guy.
This is a pretty stellar move pulled off by John Mozeliak and company. Jordan Montgomery will do really well pitching in front of the Cardinals elite defense and I think Bader been saying he wanted to play in New York since debuting his “Statue of Liberty glove” he’s such a flashy player and will do well under the bright lights in New York. His unbelievable Zone URZ and other defensive metrics will be missed, but Carlson is a very capable replacement and the Cardinals really need a work horse like Montgomery to eat innings and help preserve the bullpen.
Wow
Good trade for both teams.
I agree
But…why, Yankees?
For Harrison Bader to get Judge out of center.
Bader is on the IL. The Cardinals were “hoping” that he would return this year
Now this trade makes even less sense. Monty hasn’t pitched well his last few games but overall he’s very underrated.
My view. This deal is about getting a legit CFer for the postseason and for next year. They’ll want to also lessen the load on Judge the final month so he’s not playing as much CF. German takes Monty’s spot. Also possible they’ll recall Schmidt and perhaps give him a shot. German is a downgrade from Montgomery, but one they can handle with a 12-game lead. Both the Bader acquisition and Severino mystery 60-day IL move are all about the postseason.
German is not good,though, and having traded away their top 3 pitching prospects Yanks are looking thin at SP for the future.
German has strike out stuff and is a nice back of the rotation starter with upside, the issue the Yanks have is Luis Severino is likely done for the season and heading to the bullpen in 2023.
Don’t know why you’d trade the farm for Montas and then trade away Montgomery, a 6’6” lefty with a 1.1 WHIP and a nice K/BB ratio, good innings too. I’d say Montgomery is the better pitcher of the two, the Yanks must really like Bader. Montgomery quite possibly was the Yanks #2, so it’s a strange trade.
Carpenter could have played a little outfield and he was raking.
German is not a replacement for Monty. Cashman was taught this lesson years ago the last time he put together an all righty rotation. I hope there is another move that involves a southpaw that is waiting for physicals or no trade clause approval before being announced. I am fine with German being the 5th starter. I think he would be a solid 4th by now if he didn’t have constant interruptions in his career. Even with German in the rotation they are still short one. Someone decent enough to hold down the #3 spot. As far as I can recall they don’t have a lefty on the farm that is anywhere near ready. Several RHP but no lefties. Wish Cashman would have just resigned Gardner for this year to cover CF. Finally a championship contender and he misses it. Hopefully he gets at least a 1 day contract.
LordD99, how can Bader help when he’s wearing a boot for plantar fasciitis?
If Monty had been traded for a healthy outfielder like Ian Happ, it might’ve — might’ve — been worth weakening the rotation. But this rotation was already facing innings limits with several starters having pitched few innings before this season. To weaken it further by dealing away Montgomery for an injured player whose greatest asset is speed and who’s nursing what’s often a chronic foot ailment makes no sense to me.
I mean, if you’re making a trade that you think might help next year, and you’re weakening your rotation this year, what does that say about your priorities?
Yanks have Cole, Montas, Sevy, Cortes, German, Schmidt, Abreu, and Gil. I think the Yanks feel that Schmidt, Abrew and Gil are better than what they traded. Add to that they will have 70 million to spend after signing Judge for 36+ .
Great observation in the last paragraph, Pink Floyd.
Btw, I wouldn’t have been happy with trading Monty for Happ, but at least Happ can hit the ball.
Note to DEVI GARCIA FANS::
I went to the Somerset Patriots game Tuesday night (8-2-22) against the Mets AA team, and Devi Garcia pitched.
Devi was AWFUL. He pitched a handful of innings to start the game. His control was terrible, and he got hit pretty hard . . . by AA hitters, no less. I think it’s time to try him out as a reliever because he looked completely lost as a starter. It was very sad to watch.
Who trades a SP for a fading, injury-prone, post-peak OFer?
Same control remaining. Strange move. Sounds like a case of a GM falling in love with potential returning, and the Yankees already having planned to move on from Montgomery after this season.
Defense in CF. I do not like the Yankees one bit, but I am impressed with their roster changes since last year: IKF has solidified shortstop and saved how many runs? Now Bader, who can go get ’em in CF. As a Rays fan, all I can say is yuk.
Bader’s foot is in a boot because he’s suffering from plantar fasciitis. How is he supposed to “go get ’em in CF”?
Plantar Faschitis is weird, I have it. Bader could literally wake up tomorrow and feel fine again. Since he’s in a walking boot that says to me they have given him the shots and are trying therapy and rest. There’s foot exercises that he needs to be doing daily and I have found the hot tub helps relaxes the foot as well. I don’t know how long they are willing to wait it out but eventually if that doesn’t work then it’s surgery. The Yankees must be confident surgery isn’t needed but a walking boot is not a good sign I haven’t needed one yet.
Worst trade I’ve ever seen the Yankees make, on paper. Why in the world would you give up a valuable starting pitcher for a guy who can’t hit?????
There absolutely better be more to this story.
Agreed, I hate this move.
He’s a league average hitter, so not as bad as often portrayed. With elite cf defense and baserunning hes definitely an above average all around player. His health is a bigger concern than his hitting.
Doesn’t sound like the guy I’d sell off a decent starting pitcher for.
It’s not even a glaring need.
Brett Gardner 2.0
You should look at Statcast Bader is worse than he looks.
Avg Exit Velo 1 percentile
Hard Hit % 4th percentile
Barrel% 14th percentile
Chase Rate – 17th percentile
BB% – 8th percentile
The only good thing about his injury is that it keeps him away from the batter’s box.
Agreed! Why?
or what?
This trade is just Stupid, Stupid, Stupid, Stupid, Stupid, Why give up Montgomery for a guy that can’t hit any better than Hicks?
One game with Bader in center and you will understand! There’s not a guy that gets a better jump on the ball than he does! He is Tyreek Hill FAST! You through in the fact you guys play in a softball field he will hit 20 homers or more! You guys did a get a LOT ! For your pitcher!
The Yankees traded Willie McGee for Bob Sykes.
That’s BULLET Bob Sykes to you!
I agree. Why?
Yankees been looking for center field help since Hicks had Tommy John surgery. Harrison Bader belongs in New York, he’s from New York. I’ve got every reason to believe he will fit right in just like Carpenter except it’ll be because hes catching a ball with less than a 8% catch probability in a close playoff game being the difference in the game he’s that type of player.
In fact, if he was in there right now, he would have run all the way to the wall in like 0.01 seconds to watch Suarez’s home run.
Difference maker my arse. It’s ALL about Pitching!!!!!!!!!!
Look at today’s game with Seattle. The Yankees got 5 hits against a great pitcher. The last thing the Yankees need more of is guys who can’t hit a lick, like Bader.
And the Yankees defense is already excellent, and No One ever has too much pitching; and now we have too little pitching, thanks to Cashman.
Whaaaattt????
Wild !
Low key loving this offseason, some really strange deals happening from large market teams
Bader
Bader . Yankees won this by a mile.
As a Yankees fan, Yankees got fleeced…
Sure sign it’s a fair deal when both sides label it a ripoff.
they get better defensively at CF but somehow get worse than Hicks at the dish. there were better options out there and ones that wouldn’t have cost a key rotation piece. even if he’s the odd man out, having depth is critical IMO
Have you seen their stat lines? Bader is better than Hicks
I don’t like WAR as an end-all be-all metric, but it’s helpful esp when you have a guy like Bader who derives so much value from speed and defense. And their WARs are near identical. Again, not a clear upgrade to a position that was not exactly a weakness with judge, Stanton, carpenter, hicks, Benny and T-Lo in reserve
Bader late then never. Ahahaha!
@PinstripedPride- Who isn’t better then Aaron Hicks?
You like A-roid. Nothing you say will ever matter.
A very insightful comment, thank you for adding to this discussion!
I’m glad you feel that way lol Bader may very well miss the rest of the season. Plantar fasciitis doesn’t just go away
It can go away as quickly as it came, but it comes back and it’s worse progressively until eventually there’s no fix but surgery. I’m not at that stage, the shots work for me, I don’t know where Bader is at but I’m guessing since he’s in a boot he’s had the shots and still no give. It’s not a good look but like I have said before it literally could be gone tomorrow….or stay and the only fix is surgery.
Lol Bader may not even play for a solid mlb starter
I will take a solid lefty starter over a defensive cf.
Pretty good joke.
Bader is a nobody and can’t hit for crap. Montgomery is a good, sometimes great, left-handed pitcher. No way in the world the Yankees won this trade.
They just went from A+ deadline to maybe a C-
One incredibly stupid move ruins all that great work. They don’t have the SP depth now.
100%. German is now the #5 starter (gross) and there’s no more SP depth behind him, with sears gone too. Bader doesn’t represent a clear OF upgrade either, at least based on WAR. Where’s the logic here? What are we missing?
I’m not as dismissive as German , but still… this move is a head scratcher.
Stl was desperate for starting pitching and made a very bad deal. Period.
Only thing I can think is maybe he Yankees think Montgomery is injured? Maybe they think he is about to need another TJ surgery? This is such a horrible trade if Montgomery is healthy. Worst I’ve seen Cashman make.
We still have Clarke Schmidt as long reliever and spot starter. We have lost of depth though, that’s for sure. I’m a little nervous
Fair. Definitely nervous tho
Cashman’s stupidity
this is not a bad deal for STL
Period.
Bader, if healthy, is a clear upgrade defensively, at the hardest position to get a solid defensive player.
Not bad at all for STL. Glad it was Bader instead of Dylan Carlson. DC a better extension candidate. Nice weak remaining schedule for the Cards awaiting Montgomery. Would not be surprised if Monty is the Cards 1 or 2 SP in the playoffs.
I’d be pretty nervous if I were a Yankees fan too. Pretty much banking on both Montas and Taillon to stay healthy down the stretch is a pretty big gamble.
@Jeremy
What are you talking about? They just got a solid mid rotation guy who might perform better in a less hitter friendly park.
Bader is a great defensive player
WHAT?? I don’t quite get this one….
I heard we’re getting Harrison Bader back, but still…..
I was ok with this until I saw we weren’t getting Rodon or Lopez. Now I don’t like it so much.
It is kind of strange. You lose a starter, get a starter then trade another starter.
I guess they’re hoping Germán steps it up and stays healthy.
Relying on German makes no sense at all. He’s been one of the worst at keeping the ball in the park, and he’s showing the same weakness since he’s been back. That’s the last thing you need in a playoff game when you’re facing the toughest pitchers in the game.
Im guessing lopez os going to the yankees
Lopez is staying put.
Miami said no.
Did Cashman make this trade and get burned by Miami after the fact? Seems impossible.
Maybe Rodon? I don’t get trading a solid lefty with great control if we’re not getting another pitcher
Still waiting on the Flaherty/ohtani deal
Neither are getting moved
Harrison Bader is coming to the Yankees in this trade.
Incorrect on Lopez
Is this to free up space for Rodon???
Maybe? Possibly?
It better be
Love it…Judge no longer in cf
Sweet. Montgomery has always been one of my favorite pitchers. Classic lefty.
Shocker- does this mean they’re getting Lopez?
Love this
Crazy. Pablo Lopez heading to NY now? Can’t see why they’d trade a solid mid rotation arm without a good backup plan.
No it’s not Lopez. The Marlins announced they’re not trading him
Yup. This trade is crazy to me, I don’t get it. Bader overall is less valuable than hicks, benintendi Stanton and (obviously) judge, so no upgrade there. But now German is the #5 starter? And what if someone else gets hurt, or Cortes needs his innings limited? I’m struggling to see cashman’s logic here
Bader is NOT less valuable than Hicks OR Benintendi. Do you type just to type?
2022 WAR t0-date*:
Benintendi: 2.5 WAR
Hicks: 1.2 WAR
Bader: 1.2 WAR
“Less” for Hicks was obviously misworded, but certainly not a real upgrade for the Yankees overall. And do you insult just to insult? Or do you actually do any independent research?
(*I know WAR is NOT perfect, but when you have a guy like Bader who’s value is from defense and speed, it’s the best we’re gonna do here)
Don’t forget the injury Bader has will take a huge toll on speed and defense if he even plays again this season.
A-rod,
They now have virtually no depth in the starting rotation. That’s the biggest problem here. Not only is German the number 5 starter but potentially after Clarke Schmidt there is no depth at all!! Remember Sears, Waldichuk, and Wesneski were just traded. This is a crazy gamble.
100% agree. That’s the double frustration here. Bader isn’t an upgrade over anyone based in 2022 performance to date, and we just emptied out our SP depth. No margin for error if someone gets hurt or continues to struggle (like Taillon). A real head scratcher
Great! A token trade for Cardinals fans.
omg great trade for the Yankees
Seriously?!?!
Now THAT’S an old-fashioned baseball trade!
Cardinals are so funny to me
Benitendi – Bader – Judge. Wow!!
Wow what? Bader can’t hit for crap. Montgomery was very good, often great. This is horrible.
Ehh…
I liked Monty, but the guy could never eat innings. His best season he averaged 5 IP the entire season. Plus he seemed to be cursed with poor run support, of course that’s not his fault, but it’s still a fact.
If this is to give Judge less innings in CF, I like it, but a speedster who is dealing with foot issues just sounds like another Hicks…
Idk. We’ll see.
Yeah hopefully the Cards can score some runs for him.
No Yankee starter eats innings.
Bader hits very good at times.
The improvement of the Yanks record this year has alot to do with their improved pitching and defense. There good defense keeps them in most games. Adding Bader just improves this team overall!
Wait, for Bader? Lmao? What, why?
Bader is a great glove, if you can keep him on the field.
I like to for the Cards.
Shameful. This team is something else.
From DeWallet the owner to Mozeliak to Michael Girsch the GM. What does Girsch do other than shine Mozeliaks shoes and pick up DeWitt’s dry cleaning?
We pick up Quintana, Stratton and Montgomery? Seriously? When they miss the playoffs or lose in the first round, watch Arenado opt out of his contract.
Then they can have lots of freed up payroll with Molina and Pujols retiring, Arenado being gone and maybe Wainwright will just go ahead and retire.
Shameful and hey Girsch, go get your shine box.
I hope Arenado does opt out. That frees up 3rd for Gorman or Walker and gives the Cards some money to spend for pitching. Wainwright won’t be around long and Flaherty is done as a Cardinal/MLB starter.
They have money and prospects to spend on pitching but they continue to bottom feed.
Yeah I know Arenado has said he won’t opt out, but I think it’s gonna be a close call. He’s “changed his mind” about this kind of stuff before. With the year he’s having, I bet he can at least get reasonably close to the dollar amount left on his current contract. 5/160 or something. Dodgers or Yankees.
No more shines, Billy…
Their biggest need was starting pitching, and that has been addressed. Arenado isn’t going anywhere.
Bader will look ridiculous with short hair…
Thank you! I’ve been waiting for someone to say that.
Damn, I don’t know much about Montgomery, but Yankees getting bader is legit
Why
Thanks for the gold glove St. Louis idiots
Enjoy the plantar fasciitis.
We have real doctors in NYC. They’ll fix what the podunk town St. Louis couldn’t
We also have real coaches that fixed Matt Carpenter
Apparently you have real douchebags too.
Then you have NOT had plantar fasciitis, that being the case – you do not know what you are talking about
The 314 right field wall fixed Carpenter.
Stupidest thing I’ve read today and that is saying alot
The same doctors jeeping Stanton healthy? Severino? Hicks? Andujar? And you don’t “fix” plantar fasciitis. Time fixes it.
Carpenter straight admitted that the hitting approach he was coached to do for years in STL was the key to turning his dismal hitting around, but was something he was ignoring…until he got to New York.
Wanna know about what Plantar Fasciitis does to a baseball player? Ask Albert Pujols (who doesn’t play center field) about how not having good feet affects every single aspect of playing baseball…and it’s chronic…there’s no cure for it. SOMETIMES it can be managed, but odds are, the Yankees just hosed themselves on this one.
He’s on the IL with plantar fasciitis and has tried to come off of the IL and couldn’t do it. When healthy, he is a beast in CF.
I can’t tell if you’re just being a troll or you’re really that dumb?
Way to turn the discussion in the wrong direction Jimmy.
This is basically my trash for your trash
Montgomery is hardly trash.
Hahaha ok… I’ll be looking forward to him starting a Game 2 in the playoffs vs someone else’s #2.. That’s gonna be fun… Game 3 will be Quintana.. You’re killing me here
Wainwright and Mikolas will be 1 and 2.
Their entire staff are all 3/4/5 starters.. As a Cardinal fan, I’d be pissed if these are the moves my GM set us up with for the stretch run and playoffs.. Wainwright, Mikolas, Montgomery, Quintana, etc, close your eyes and stick your hand in the barrel and pull one out, they’re all the same, no difference.. That’s the point
So if you don’t start a playoff game… youre trash?
They really need to start evaluating some of the fans on this site. It ruins the experience.
Sorry you’re butt hurt and angry at your GM.. Take it somewhere else.. And you better pray they don’t start charging for access to this site, you’ll have get Mom to advance you 6 months worth of allowance lol.. “Ruins the Experience”, dramatic much kid?? #truthhurts
I’ll just have your mom sign in for him, she’s here every night.
#idiot
Yankees finally figure out Hicks isn’t good
Since 2017:
Hicks 114 OPS+
Bader 99 OPS+
Hicks 11.2 WAR
Bader 11.8 WAR
They accomplished nothing. Just moved a little bit of O for a little bit of D.
And gave up a starting pitcher.
So solved that problem by replacing Montgomery with German? Schmidt?
This is a really weird trade. League average starting pitcher with another year of control for a CF who can’t hit and has plantar fascitis. What the eff happened there, Cashman? Bader’s the best CF you can find?
Harrison Bader digs himself.
So the Yankees went out for Soto, Castillo, and Robertson and ended up moving Montgomery for Montas (near identical pitchers; 108 ERA+/110 ERA+), getting Bader to play CF for Hicks (Hicks is 15% better offensively over his career than Bader), and Effross (great) and Trivino (terrible) instead of Robertson.
Congrats on your L, Yankees. You did nothing to beat the Astros. Oh, sorry, I forgot about your 2..5 WAR Benintendi.
The world’s richest poverty team.
Ok now that’s just silly. Montas is much better than Montgomery. Let’s not overdo it.
Look up the stats. They’re almost identical. I’m not making this up.
Alkie: cherry-picking stats from just this year?? What about ERA?
You covet Castillo but I can make the case that he and Montas are very comparable.
@dragbunt
Cherry picking stats from just this year??
What year were you hoping they would pitch in?
This year is the one that matters.
@stymeedone
Sorry but that doesn’t make sense. You think the Padres traded for Soto off his numbers from only this year?
My point is Montas is clearly a better pitcher than Montgomery.
By every statistical measure including war Montgomery is the better pitcher. The difference isn’t enormous, but always favors Montgomery. “Montas is much better” is, in fact, a ridiculous statement..
JPR, like what??? Numbers — not your opinions.
Is ERA not a statistical category?
ERA, higher strikeout rate, pitches better against Houston.
And no, Montgomery doesn’t have a better WAR.
Those seem pretty important.
Actually, Montas being a much better pitcher is an obvious statement to anyone’s that has seen them pitch.
Robertson has no control after this year, and Effross is having a great year with alot of control moving forward. He also throws side arm, out of a different window which is huge in the playoff match ups!
Agreed, mediocre moves at best
Am I missing something? A .243 lifetime BA and .304 OBP, 10 hr/yr guy. Very pedestrian stats. Yankees fans mostly tooting the horn on how great this deal is. Montgomery is pretty solid IMO.
I guess Mo has an infatuation of left handed pitchers at the deadline! He wanted the younger ones this time! As Chris Hansen would say “Can you have a seat MO”. Chris Hansen furthers his investigation and asks MO “What is with that bow tie”! MO’s response was “I am just trying to get the younger ones this time”!
I know Yanks added Montas but now they’ve lost Severino to 60 day DL and Montgomery traded. Good glove in Bader but starting pitching which had looked stronger after Montas trade looks on balance weaker.
Between this, and Boston not having a clue, today has had some serious head scratchers.
So who is the 5th starter for the Yankees? I think Sevi is injured as well
1.Cole
2.Montas
3.Cortes
4.Taillon
5.?
German?
Cashman is the worst intern/security guard/GM ever.
Quite frankly, this is a HORRIBLE trade that I can’t understand. They’re are defense first CF available for nothing. I’d rather bring in a super fresh Gardner than trade a legit middle rotation starter. The Yankees just lost Servino for perhaps the season. If you don’t want to completely burn your bullpen you need to have 4 good starters for a run. Montgomery gave them that. I’ve always like the kid and felt he was getting better. I don’t get this trade. Your sacrifice a starter for a glove first CF????
Adding Montas made Monty expendible, they now have a rotation of Cole, Montas, Cortes, Taillion, Sevy/German/Schmidt. Bader gives them a great defensive centerfielder, and move Judge back to right.
Not one of those things helps the Yankees beat Houston.
Opinion: “Not one of those things helps Yankees beat Houston”
Fact: Montas has pitched very well against Houston last few years.
Severino is done for the season
There are going to A TON of cardinals fans that are going to hate this move. He was and probably still is a total fan favorite!
Not this one. Makes complete sense to me.
Bader is going to need to get a HAIRCUT!
Cardinals minor leagues has good position player depth, but are any center fielders?
Not really. Ben DeLuzio (a minor league Rule 5 pick-up) is doing okay in Memphis, but Burleson and Gomez are corner outfielders.
If they convert Walker into an outfielder, it’s most likely right field too.
Right now, it’s Carlson and Nootbaar in center.
I think the Yankees forgot the lesson about the importance of having starting pitching depth.
Exactly. Trade for a pitcher pushing his limits and trade away one suffering from summer slump. Montgomery will be missed. Non needed move!!
I believe that is why the Cardinals made the trade, because Cardinals management knows the importance of starting pitching depth.
I would guess the Cards are going to bring up Burleson and play him in RF. This is what the Cardinals do when they have players nearing FA. He (Bader) has one more year near 5 million. They get a lefty that has played and pitched very well in the AL East bring him to the NL Central and let him do his thing. They get a year of Arb from him and then decide if they want to extend him. The Cardinals are very very deep in OF overall. They have plenty of talent coming and some of it is ready now.
Bader will catch balls in left center to right center that most outfielders wouldn’t come close to catching…when he’s healthy.
He was literally pulled from a game earlier this year for not hustling.
Congratulations NYY! When Bader is in the lineup he’s exciting to watch. Always gives 110%
More golf gloves to come.
*gold gloves
No he’s hurt he will be using golf gloves a plenty
Fun fact: a St Louis area fast food chain sold “Bader Taters” for a bit. Tater tots with a pile of toppings and squirts.
Haden had better be AMAZING. I would have preferred keeping Monty and giving Florial a shot in center. Ugh.
Looks like Clarke Schmidt might get the ball now as the #5
This trade was very surprising. Wonder why the Yankees made it.
Ughhh… I’m going to miss Monty. Was hoping they ship German and a prospect out.
WTF Cash???
WTF? Hader, Bader, Potader
You traded all your AAA starters then you trade Monty for a player who might not play before September Cashman went fro A rating to losing his mind
I think this is a crap move by the Yankees! They could have had a rotation with Monty in the 5 hole, instead they have German – that’s a fail. Sure they will get Severino back at some point but you can never have too many starters especially down the stretch. What happens when one more goes down? Oops!
NOW I understand why the Cards kept Carlson with the Soto talks – they had this trade brewing.
Stats so far this season:
Bader– .256/.303/.370
Hicks– .23o/.353/.330
Stats over their careers:
Bader– .246/.320/.409
Hicks– .233/.333/.392
So in offense they’re not too far apart, with Bader getting better marks on average and slugging while Hicks has a higher OBP. However, the defense is why the Yankees wanted Bader so badly. He’s one of the finest defense players in center field and that’s going to be critical come the playoffs.
Clearly the Yankees weren’t going to let Monty start a playoff game, or they wouldn’t have let him go. It sucks losing a reliable back end starter, but I guess the team feels they can swing it with what they have.
Pretty strange days from both LAD and NYY including the trade between themselves
Not terrible days so to speak, but nothing like the days of yesteryear with them just bulldozing the market –
I like it in all honesty , love these mid market teams like Minny Sea Stl Atl and even SD/Philly (larger markets) getting to take thier hacks as well!
Fun day
Tommy Pham spoke out and was traded. Randy Arozarena videotaped Shildt and was traded. Bader and Marmol butted heads and now Bader is traded. The cardinals are modern day communist
You mean fascist, and you’re still wrong
This is a terrible trade. Never give up decent pitching for mediocre player at best. I would rather we play a prospect instead of a bench warmer.
I see the logic of the trade for both teams. Yankees are trying to be good at defense and the Cardinals need pitching more than I need to not update this site ever 10 seconds.
After getting outbid for Soto, the Cardinals had to do SOMETHING.
I’m tempted to withhold judgement. Montgomery isn’t the solid #1-2-or 3 starter they really needed but he’s better than what they had, and they have prospects down on the farm that can fill an OF slot (with Carlson staying in center). That said, Bader is a terrific defender whose offense will be made even better with the short porch in Yankee stadium, ala Luke Voit..
As a Yankee fan, this trade is fair tbh. Too many people here overvaluing Montgomery. I like the kid, but come on now. Yanks are getting a very good CF and base stealer, basically Gardner 2.0. AND if his injury derails him, they have a PTBNL or cash coming to them to offset that. Someone had to be knocked out of the rotation anyway, might as well get some value.
i think value wise the two players are pretty close to even. i just dont think positionally the trade makes sense for the Yankees. Severino went down and Montgomery was a more than capable back end starting pitcher. I get they just traded Gallo but its not like anyone from the minors couldnt put up the numbers that he did. If there was a more glaring need for an OFer or if Monty was the 6th guy i’d understand it better but neither of those things are true
I see a shave and a haircut in Mr. Bader’s near-term future
Hey Yankee fans, when you see Bader play, you will understand. He is literally one of the greats defensovely, and an exciting player on both offense and defense. He will be a fan favorite.
The annual ‘Cashman trying to look busy at the trade deadline while knowing the Yankees will fall short of a World Series title yet again (13 years and counting and 1 title in the past 22 years).’
And getting BEATEN in the process.
Hi Tim,
Is it ‘2021 season’ or ‘2022 season’? Can you please fix ir?
“In parting with Montgomery, the Yankees have weakened their rotation for the remainder of the ‘2021 season'”
The logic of this for the Yankees seems thin at best. Montgomery is a legit starting pitcher. I guess we will see, but the Yankees have traded a lot of prospect talent and youth….and I’m not overwhelmed with the return.
This is a head scratcher one. At first I thought it made sense if the Yankees were getting Pablo Lopez, but obviously not. Harrison Bader is a good defender but he’s injured right now. I can see the trade happening during the off-season but now????
Don’t care for this trade AT ALL!! We NEED starting pitching! The rotation has been worn down lately. We hear about an innings limit for Nestor. Taillion is struggling. Sevy on the 60 day IL. So what does Cash do? Gets a solid starter with shoulder issues (Montas) and then ships out a guy who always takes the ball for an injured outfielder who doesn’t hit? Now we have Cole, Montas, Nestor, Tallion and German…..and have to hold our breath that Montas stays in one piece. We also traded several really good young arms! Who eats innings to help Nestor now? German isn’t reliable either. Is Schmidt taking that role? Johnny Brito?
Cashman put us in a tough spot for a guy who won’t even play until maybe September. HATE this deal right now!!
horrible trade… either Cashman got trade-happy and made one too many, or he was hoping to get Lopez and made one too few…. he still gets an A for this deadline for getting Montas and Effross without giving up a top prospect and for getting something besides a bag of balls for Gallo
Who uses a 5-man rotation in the playoffs anyways?
Stop crying Yanks fans, you guys just got a stud and a treat to watch play! Now enjoy and go buy a Bader jersey
I was thinking about that too. For a three game set, I’m assuming they’ll use Cole, Montas, and Taillon. Cortes will be in the bullpen due to innings limits and Severino will too when he returns.
In a 7 game set Cole and Montas can go twice, with Taillon getting Game 3 and maybe Severino doing a short start for Game 4.
The bullpen got reinforced, so perhaps Cashman felt German/Schmidt plus relievers can handle Monty’s spot. It’s not like he was giving us 6-7 innings lately either.
⬆️ this guy gets it.
Do you trust Taillon in a game 3?
Right. What could be more fun than watching a guy on the IL sit on the bench?
We’re familiar with plantar fasciitis around here. We had a “stud” named Greg Bird who never amounted to anything thanks to that injury — and he didn’t have to play center field, he was a first baseman.
Mindless trade by Cashman. They needed pitching and he added a center fielder on the IL who’s suffering from the same affliction as Greg Bird. Mindless.
But you know the old adage: “Center fielders on the IL win championships.”
What occurs to me, and I hope I’m wrong, is that acquiring a center fielder might be a lame prelude to letting Judge walk so cheapass Hal doesn’t have to pay for him.
I don’t like this trade at all. We need decent starting pitching and Monty was just that. I don’t get it, unless we’re getting another starter that hasn’t been reported yet.
Well, I’m not a Yankees fan so I’m probably not as unhappy with this trade as most. Makes a lot of sense AFTER a trade for another starter. Without that..WTF!! seems like the right way to go on this one
“In parting with Montgomery, the Yankees have weakened their rotation for the remainder of the 2021 season…”
Have they now?
I wonder if something was going on behind the scenes like clubhouse/chemistry issues or they think hell get injured sooner than later.
Why why why Yankees? Pitching is key to winning in a long season. Montgomery was a solid pitcher
This trade sucks. Bader is Tim Locastro. Meanwhile, Taillion is getting smashed again.
What a horrible move by Cashman. You trade a pitcher, that over the years has proved he can pitch in NY. I thought the goal was to make the rotation better?!
Monty will be a 20-game winner this year now that he has a team that can finally give him some run support.
Stupid trade! I think Cashman should have left well alone. He did well up to that point. Give up a reliable starter for a hurt centerfielder with no bat.
Where are the cardinal fans at ??
They calling up Burleson ? That’s who I wanted reds to get if cards got mahle. He’s having a good year and could be a contributor down the stretch
Burly should be up soon. Dickerson has actually been playing well lately, so they’ll give him another shot for a while.
I think Burleson is going to be a regular platoon in left field/DH next season. I’d like it to start ASAP. The guy can hit.
Cardinals are a very smart franchise. Staying away from soto and all the other big names while improving their roster. Crafty cardinals
This trade makes absolutely no sense at all. How can Cash trade Monty after trading away all the high end SP in the upper minors? @^%*$
Here is my thiniking, the Yanks upgrade their defense with Bader and he moves Judge back to RF. Bader is a gold glove centerfielder with some control. He also has speed to steal bases. Monty has been falling off lately, and I think Cashman feels that he has upgraded the rotation with Montas, and can put German in the 5th spot. My sleeper for the 5th spot is Schmidt. He has been good in multiple innings and his innings have been monitored.
As we watch the steadily declining Taillon losing another game, I’ll repost this from last night for those who think we’ve got enough pitching with Severino on the 60-day IL:
So I’m wondering — or rather hoping — that the Yankee scouts are pretty sure Montas is going to be 100% after his shoulder injury. Because I just checked out the velocities in his last start. By the fourth inning, his 4-seamer was down to 94 MPH, and he only lasted five innings. This concerns me because he’s described thus by CBS Sports:
“Montas is an unusual starter in the sense that he’s all about brute force. His fastball clocks in at 96 mph and the slowest pitch in his arsenal is his 86-mph splitter. That faster, and then even faster approach defies convention, but it works for him. He’s able to generate plenty of swinging strikes and swings outside of the strike zone.”
I referred back to a pre-injury start on June 23 when he no-hit the Mariners through 7.2 innings. In the top of the 8th inning his 4-seamer hit 98 MPH.
A 3-4 MPH drop in velocity is not inconsiderable, especially if the description above has any validity. I have to hope the Yankee scouts and analysts have a good idea where he’s at right now and have good reason to believe he’s going to be effective.
Wow, you really hate the Yankees huh?
We get it.
Yeah, I want the Yankees to make smart trades. That means I hate them.
Good thinking there, Jimmy.
I can see by your continued Montas commentary that you don’t get how to bring pitchers along after injuries but you keep being you!
And you keep being you, Jimmy. Keep thinking that subtracting from the rotation for an injured center fielder when the team is competing with Houston for home field advantage is a good idea.
I didn’t say anything about the Cardinal trade , did I?
You’re concerned about velocity and IP for a guy that just came off the DL. Not real astute.
Also, you seem to think that the Yankees should be concerned with Houston (and understandably so), yet in your 100 anti- Montas posts you don’t seem to realize he pitches very well against them and in Houston.
Yeah, I’m concerned about a 3-4 MPH drop in velocity for a fastball pitcher, Jimmy. And stop lying, Jimmy. I haven’t posted 100 posts about any player ever.
I watched Montas in his last A’s start against the Stros. Went 5 innings and did not look like Montas of old. He usually has a blazing fastball. He did not and also struggled with control. Maybe the medical stuff checks out okay, but something did not seem right. Maybe things will straighten out, but strange the Yanks went after a guy right after he’s had shoulder issues. Montgomery is a solid pitcher, not as electric as Montas, but I thought he was fairly consistently good.
A steady LH homegrown improving mid rotation starter for a defensive replacement/pinch runner with 1 year of control.
The PTBNL better be very good.
Great job, Cardinals. The Yankee fans all think they got hosed on this deal. They’re right.
In a vacuum I’d think this is a pretty good challenge trade for both teams. In reality Cashman traded away a lot of starting depth and starting pitching prospects before trading away directly from his starting rotation. He added Montas which is great but he also very recently had a shoulder injury scare and Bader is currently on the IL with an injury that never has a timetable for a possible recovery. As a fan of a rival NL Central team I assure all the Yankees fans here that you will love Bader whenever he is able to play. He’s fantastic in center, probably the best in the majors defensively and he’s not a black hole in the lineup that some portray him to be but this trade undoubtedly made the Yankees worse for the rest of this season in my opinion.
Pujols suffered from plantar fasciitis soon after going to Anaheim. He was never the same player. A center fielder with that injury is about as useless as a pitcher with a torn elbow ligament.
I’m going to try to look at the positives of this trade. Monty will be on an innings count. Probably 170 totql IP for the regular season. He almost certainly won’t start in the playoffs. His ERA+ now sits at 104. Pretty pedestrian overall but good for a #5. If and when Bader comes back, we’re going to see Judge at DH more in Sept. to keep him fresh. This team can’t win in the postseason without him. Cashman has pushed all of his chips in so some fans are expectedly upset at the cost.
I appreciated the defense Bader provided as the center fielder for the Cardinals. When he is physically able to play center, Yankees fans will enjoy the wizard like defensive plays he can provide, but more importantly, the Yankees pitching staff will feel the confidence and security that if the ball is hit to center, right center, or left center, Bader will make the catch.
“When he is physically able to play center . . .”
Well, that’s the problem, isn’t it?
What is the point of having Bader if he is sitting on the bench because he bats like Gallo? How is he going to keep Judge out of CF if he goes in for defensive replacement in the 8th or 9th inning? We are now thin and Houston is a few games behind us in a weak division. It should be an unwritten law you never give up a lefty unless you replace one with another. Bad trade.
Jordan Walker starting his transition to the outfield tonight.
This is one I’m not sure about for the Yankees.
Seriously?!?! Monty has been the most consistent and solid #2-#3(at worst) we’ve had. Really dumb move by Cashman.
Monty made waves recently and that’s a huge no no with the Yanks.
I missed it. What did he do?
Why was the return for Gallo better than the return for Montgomery. I would not have claimed Bader off waivers. He isn’t worth a roster spot.
This trade makes no sense. It will come back to bite us.
So nice to see Donaldson go yard. It’d be huge if he could find his stroke.
You can’t trade Bader!
Did you mention this to Mozeliak?
Probably heard the Astros were interested and panicked
Ridiculous!! Bader is definitely a solid player, but in no way worthy of a proven AL East starting pitcher, especially this year. Our staff was already exhausted and worn thin as it is, so replacing Monty (a reliable #3 for the past few years) even for a solid #2 makes no sense. JT has been getting rocked recently-just look at tonight. Montgomery (you’ll be missed) had looked tired, yet I trusted his strength to hold up more than Taillon’s. And Nestor is close to running out of innings. Sevy is shelved to obviously be saved for October but will need time to shake off the rust. Yet here we are with a staff that will continue to be overworked when a few skipped starts here and there could’ve helped come postseason. He’ll throw one of Nestor or Taillon in the pen and keep them stretched out. Now I’d bet good money that Nestor starts going downhill very soon due to workload. Taillon is clearly exhausted & nothing more than wasted starts at the moment. By season’s end we’ll be down to two solid starters, barring injuries, and hoping Sevy regains his form quickly. By which time Taillon and Nestor will have long run out of fumes, and all quality AAA arms traded. This was one of those rare occasions where quality and quantity should’ve been held in equal regards. And Cashman should’ve seen that. Blew a decent deadline with that one last move.
This, from MLB.com:
‘“He’s a 60-to-70 defender, 60-to-70 runner that can impact our team in many ways, whether it’s coming off the bench to steal a bag or as a starting option in the outfield,” Cashman said.
‘The Yankees have spoken about their plan to move Aaron Judge out of center field in the second half, hoping to keep his legs fresher for the postseason drive. Judge has started 52 games in center field this season, the most on the Yanks’ roster, ahead of Aaron Hicks (49) and others.’
Question: How can a guy sitting on the bench with plantar fasciitis help Judge keep his legs fresh? How can he steal a bag?
In 2019, Ryan Zimmerman, who played first base, not center field, missed 106 days with plantar fasciitis.
Here’s some more of Cashman’s explanation of trading Monty for Bader:
“He’s a really talented kid who happens to be from Bronxville, N.Y. , so he’s a local guy.”
And who gives a s__ that he’s local? That helps you win ballgames? Andrew Velazquez, a kid from the Bronx, was even more local than Bader, and he sucks.
The postseason is never a sure thing; but this team had its best shot at a ring in years, and Cashman had a chance to increase their odds with judicious deals at the trade deadline. Instead, he weakened the rotation in exchange for an injured player who’s ability to help the team THIS YEAR is greatly in doubt.
Typo correction: Instead, he weakened the rotation in exchange for an injured player whose ability to help the team THIS YEAR is greatly in doubt.
There can be No Doubt now that Cashman is a MORON. You don’t trade a quality pitcher, basically our #2 starter at this point, for a crap hitter.
This trade should put to rest any talk that Cashman is a great GM. He’s an idiot . . .
Just as he was an idiot when he traded for Gallo. Remember this stupidity? When a reporter asked Cashman at the start of the 2021 season whether the Yankees needed some Lefty power bats, Cashman said, No, our righty hitters hit lefties well. Then, halfway through the season, he ran around with his hair on fire screaming: Oh, my god! We need Lefty power hitters, and that led to the disaster Gallo trade.
Just as he was an idiot in signing Hicks, who had an injury history with the Twins, to a 7-year extension.
Just as he was an idiot for letting Garrett Whitlock go for nothing.
Just as he was an idiot for thinking Torres could play SS. I saw him play SS 4 times in AA for the Trenton Thunder & he STUNK as a SS, only an idiot would think he could play SS at the MLB level.
Just as he was an idiot for extending Chapman the last time when it was apparent that he was on a downward slide.
Just as he was an idiot when he (apparently) didn’t propose an incentive-ladder contract to Judge that included lucrative dollar incentives for games played. Something like a $30.5 MM base (which they offered), with increasing incentives based on games played that would have gotten him up to $35-36MM a year. (For example, $1MM for 100 games. $1.5MM for 120, $1.5MM for 130, $1.5MM for 140.)
The recent Yankee dynasty teams, which some people Mistakenly credit Cashman with helping to build, were built by two brilliant baseball minds: Gene Michaels & Bob Watson.
Cashaman has been living off of Michaels’ & Watson’s Legacy for more than a decade now. He’s a disaster as a GM. He should only be making trades in a Bronx dive bar over 2 boiler makers, before returning to his job flipping burgers at Burger King.
Glad you bever made a mistake
Wow, so no one in the History of the World is responsible for their mistakes because everyone has made a mistake at some point, according to your logic.
I outlined hald a dozen grievous major mistakes on Cashman’s part, and all you can say is “Glad you (Never) made a mistake.”
BTW, you misspelled “never,” but everyone’s human.
Unfortunately, Cashman’s mistakes are idiotic, not simply a matter of human error.
Every other GM in baseball must be laughing their butts off (especially the Astros’s GM) at the idea of trading a proven mid-level pitcher for an injured outfielder who can’t hit. If you can’t see how stupid that is, you’re either related to Cashman or you must make a ton of mistakes.
Two words on this seemingly inexplicable deal of Monty for Bader: make up.
I believe Cash and Co. felt that Monty lacked the kind of strength of will to believe in himself in a big spot in the post season.
Like Cole in the Wild Card game last year?
The only postseason game Monty pitched was against the Rays in the 2020 ALDS. He gave up 3 hits and 1 run through 4 innings. He didn’t get the decision, but the Yankees won.
Look, Cashman got a number 2 starter, 2 solid gold glove outfielders, and 2 solid relief pitchers with some control. He did all that without giving up his top prospects. German and Schmidt should be able to pitch a least as well as Monty has been pitching.
And while he was hugging his prospects, the Mariners got the pitcher who handcuffed the Yankees today while Cole gave up six earned in the first inning to a lineup missing their two best hitters, France and J-Rod.
At first, I thought the Cards overpaid. But Yankee fans have talked me into believing Cards did well.
Whether you like it or not Yankee fans, you will love Bader.
What are the odds the Yankees go out and resign Tanaka?
Bader will be able to run to the wall to watch a home run and and then get back to his position faster than anyone else on the team. That’s super valuable. And all that for a guy who is on his way to his third season of 150+ innings with an ERA under 4. But at least they got back an injury prone performance enhancement drug user to replace him. Yeesh.
If you have any evidence to support your scurrilous claim of drug use, post it here. Otherwise, shame on you and STFU. It was a stupid trade, but slandering a player without a scrap of evidence is low.
Well if a starter goes down the Yankees can always sign Tommy Milone. Mariners just released him. Also we will give you Justus Sheffield back for a signed Judge jersey.
Paxton wasn’t much better,
He’s 3-0 with a 0.45 ERA. Yeah, he’s not good enough to be on the playoff roster. I am sure we may see Bader chasing down fly balls in ‘23. Nice move
YES (pun intended), yanks2323, Cashman has managed through his abject stupidity to turn a .700 winning % club into a .200 % club.
I think trading Monty, who was Extremely Popular among his teammates & was a heck of a competitor, broke the moral & helped DESTROY the Chemistry on this team.
And look what we replaced Monty with in a rotation: a piece of dog dung. As I noted when they picked up Montas, he’s EXTREMELY OVERRATED. He’s basically an Oakland Collesium pitcher ONLY. His ERA this year on the road was 4.85 prior to the trade, now it’s even Worse!
Cahsman is a reactionary GM. His stupidity has become Undeniable in the last two years, based on the vast # of prospects he’s given up for overrated crap performers like Gallo & Montas.
Cashman was NEVER a great GM. He lived off the Brilliance of Gene Michaels & Bob Watson & George vast pocketbook. Now that George is no longer around to give him blank checks, everyone can see how incompetent he actually is.
Some people will credit him with moves like getting Holmes, but credit for under the radar moves like that really go to the Yankees’ scouts, not the GM. But the GM is ultimately responsible for bonehead (or Boone-head) trades, like the Gallo, Montas, and Monty disasters.
Cashman’s contract is up at the end of the year, I believe, and, hopefully, Hal will wake up from his lethargy & get him the (blank) out of NY.