Frankie Montas – Dodger Thoughts

Dodgers acquire Josh Reddick, Rich Hill

By Jon Weisman

On August 1, 2016

In Transactions

Josh Reddick (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Rich Hill (Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images)

By Jon Weisman

With less than three hours remaining in the 2016 non-waiver trade deadline, the Dodgers have made their first move. It might not be their only one.

The Dodgers have acquired left-handed hitting outfielder Josh Reddick and left-handed pitcher Rich Hill, in exchange for minor-league right-handers Jharel Cotton, Grant Holmes and Frankie Montas.

The 29-year-old Reddick has a career-high .368 on-base percentage and 124 OPS+ this year in 272 plate appearances for Oakland. (He missed five weeks after fracturing his left thumb on a slide May 19.) His 121 weighted runs created is 12th among MLB right fielders.

Against right-handed pitching, Reddick has a .955 OPS this season.

Hey @RealJoshReddick you should ask to still be #22.

— Brett Anderson (@BAnderson3737) August 1, 2016

Hill has had an unusual career. At age 36, in his 12th Major League season, he has only 576 big-league innings to his name. He actually is on the disabled list right now, dating back to July 20, because of a blister issue. He also missed pitching in June because of a left groin strain.

However, when healthy in 2016, he has dominated, throwing 76 innings in 14 starts with a 2.25 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

Six Dodgers in Baseball America Top 100 update

By Jon Weisman

On July 8, 2016

In Minor leagues

Cody Bellinger (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

Despite this year’s promotions of Corey Seager and Julio Urias and the debut of American rookie Kenta Maeda, Baseball America included six Dodgers in its Midseason Top 100 Prospects update.

Cody Bellinger (24), Jose De Leon (25), Alex Verdugo (44), Grant Holmes (60), Frankie Montas (82) and Willie Calhoun (98) were the Dodgers listed.

By comparison, the season-opening 2016 Baseball America 100 had Seager (1), Urías (4), De Leon (23), Maeda (50), Bellinger (54), Holmes (72) and Verdugo (100).

The new list does not include anyone taken in the 2016 draft or signed internationally this month.

Frankie Montas has another rib injury

By Jon Weisman

On June 24, 2016

In Health/injuries

Frankie Montas signed autographs with Yasiel Puig at FanFest in January. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

Right-handed pitcher Frankie Montas, who seemed to moving fast toward at least a temporary spot in the Dodger starting rotation a week ago, has re-aggravated a stress reaction in his rib, the Dodgers said today.

The team added he will undergo further diagnostic testing, and no timeframe has yet been given for his return.

The 23-year-old Montas, who missed the start of the 2016 season because of surgery to remove a rib in February, has 22 strikeouts in 16 minor-league innings since his return, with a 2.25 ERA. He fanned 20 in 15 innings after making his MLB debut last year with the White Sox, before he came to Los Angeles in the trade that included Trayce Thompson and Micah Johnson.

Side note: Ross Stripling is back in action, throwing three innings in an Arizona League game Thursday.

Urías starts tonight, but for how much longer?

By Jon Weisman

On June 17, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pitching

By Jon Weisman

Tonight’s starting pitcher, Julio Urías, has thrown 58 professional innings this season. Dave Roberts said Thursday that the plan was to give Urias two more starts, then evaluate.

Most interpreted this as Roberts saying that Urías would be shut down in the manner of Ross Stripling, who hasn’t pitched in a game since May. To be clear, though, that wasn’t stated explicitly by Roberts, who simply said, “we’ll go from there.”

Last year, Urías threw 80 1/3, and the year before, a career-high 87 2/3. Even in the unlikely event of two complete games, Urías would still be at 76 innings on the year. Two six-inning outings would put Urías at 70. Presumably, Urías can go incrementally above the 80-plus inning range that he has previously reached.

So the question would be whether it makes sense to use all those innings now, while the Dodgers wait for the return of Brandon McCarthy, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Alex Wood from the disabled list (and longer down the road, Brett Anderson). Or do they have Urías take the break, and the ramp him up again in the second half of the season, when the rotation might be more crowded — not that there couldn’t be other setbacks.

In case you missed it: Rehab games for many, but not Ethier

By Jon Weisman

On June 14, 2016

In Health/injuries, In case you missed it, Minor leagues, Transactions

Andre Ethier poses with former Dodger infielder Mark Ellis prior to Monday’s game.

By Jon Weisman

Some items to catch up on …

Andre Ethier is still in limbo, as Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports. “It’s a little slower than we thought,” Ethier said. “At the eight-week exam, I was expecting to have the OK and go do baseball stuff and slowly progress into running. It was a little bit of a jaw dropper when you get the result. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t healed like I was hoping it was. I had to reassess that it would take a little longer. You always think you can bounce back quicker than you do.”
In his first rehab outing since going on the disabled list June 3, Yasiel Puig grounded out, homered to right center and walked.
Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu came through their weekend rehab starts without issues and remain on schedule for their next appearances — Thursday for McCarthy, Friday for Ryu. McCarthy threw two innings June 11 in his rehab debut. Ryu pitched three innings June 12.
Carl Crawford cleared waivers and was officially released by the Dodgers.
Brock Stewart, the 24-year-old righty who was a sixth-round Dodger draft pick from Illinois State in 2014, made his Triple-A debut Monday for Oklahoma City. Stewart struck out seven in 5 2/3 innings and didn’t walk anyone until his final batter, though he allowed two home runs.
Another newcomer to the Oklahoma City starting rotation is 27-year-old righty Nick Tepesch, who was picked up after being released by Texas. Tepesch has made two five-inning starts for Oklahoma City, with a 2.70 ERA and nine strikeouts in 10 innings. He has 219 career big-league innings with a 4.56 ERA.
Frankie Montas isn’t exactly new to Oklahoma City, but he is officially off the Dodgers’ 60-day disabled list and was officially optioned Sunday. With 11 strikeouts against one run in his first 7 2/3 innings (two appearances), Montas has done nothing to discourage speculation that he is on the fast track to Los Angeles. He next pitches Wednesday.
Double-A Tulsa’s Trevor Oaks and Willie Calhoun each won Player of the Week honors, as did Single-A Rancho Cucamonga’s Michael Ahmed, the brother of Arizona’s Nick Ahmed.
Jose Tabata, who was acquired in exchange for barely-a-Dodger Michael Morse last summer, was released June 11 from Oklahoma City. The six-year MLB vet had a .673 OPS in Triple-A this year.

Frankie Montas begins rehab assignment

By Jon Weisman

On May 20, 2016

In Health/injuries, Minor leagues, Pregame

Frankie Montas at Spring Training in February, post-surgery. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Dodgers at Padres, 7:40 p.m.
Kiké Hernandez, LF
Justin Turner, 3B
Corey Seager, SS
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Trayce Thompson, CF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Yasmani Grandal, 1B
A.J. Ellis, C
Scott Kazmir, P

By Jon Weisman

Frankie Montas, the fireballing right-hander acquired with Trayce Thompson and Micah Johnson from the White Sox, has been a mostly forgotten man since he had rib resection surgery February 12.

But Montas threw two innings Thursday in an extended Spring Training game Thursday at Camelback Ranch, the Dodgers said, and is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Saturday with Double-A Tulsa.

A potential starter or reliever, the 23-year-old struck out 108 in 112 innings with a 2.97 ERA for Double-A Birmingham, before striking out 20 in a 15-inning trial with the White Sox. In his last appearance of 2015, he struck out seven in four innings of one-run ball October 4.

Dodgers sign Cuban RHP Yaisel Sierra

By Jon Weisman

On February 21, 2016

In Health/injuries, International, Transactions

MLB.com

By Jon Weisman

Now the Dodgers have a Yaisel to go with their Yasiel.

Yaisel Sierra, a 24-year-old right-handed pitcher from Cuba, has signed a six-year deal with the Dodgers.

In case you missed it: Pitchers and catchers and avocados, oh my

By Jon Weisman

On February 19, 2016

In In case you missed it, Spring Training

For more photos from today, visit the Dodgers Photog Blog.

By Jon Weisman

Hey! It’s that day!

With today’s “pitchers and catchers reporting” day arriving, it’s time to bring back our regular roundup of relevant news on the Dodgers and baseball. Here’s what’s percolating on the Camelback campus …

Hyun-Jin Ryu, pictured above with Kenta Maeda, had a 35-pitch bullpen session Thursday. He is expected to pitch in the Cactus League but is not being rushed to be ready for the opening of the regular season, wrote Andy McCullough of the Times in his roundup.
Maeda, who met with a gaggle of reporters this morning, has thrown two bullpen sessions already and all is normal, according to Bill Plunkett of the Register.
Yasmani Grandal is under no limitations now that his left shoulder has healed from surgery, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.
Andre Ethier’s jersey is being retired by Arizona State tonight. Ethier and his wife Maggie were both already inducted into the Sun Devil Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.
Frankie Montas’ stress fracture in rib “was less severe than thoracic outlet syndrome,” notes Alanna Rizzo of SportsNet LA. Montas broached it with Dodger trainers last month after it persisted, Rizzo said.
On a brighter side, Rizzo added that Justin Turner has “hit every checkpoint” in his recovery from microfracture surgery.
Trayce Thompson watched his brother Klay at the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, then went to Arizona on Monday, according to Doug Padilla of ESPN. (Update: Padilla has more on Grandal here.)
Fellow White Sox emigré Micah Johnson needed a few stitches after cutting his hand while slicing an avocado, and will need a few days to heal, reported Plunkett. For his part, Johnson tweeted that he had “the last laugh.”
Andrew Friedman has taken to calling Dave Roberts “Doc,” according to Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. For you trivia buffs, the new Doc Roberts was born almost exactly 75 years after “Fiddlin'” Doc Roberts.
The Uribear, Juan Uribe, has agreed to a one-year contract with the Indians.
Tony Phillips, who seemed perpetually underrated to me, has passed away all too soon at age 56, as chronicled by Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
And one more item from Thursday: Brandon McCarthy took Clayton Kershaw to task for misunderstanding the fundamentals of offseason training. But it’s possible there’s been a misunderstanding …

Frankie Montas, starter or reliever (Part 2)

By Jon Weisman

On January 31, 2016

In Profiles

Why do I look so worried? I haven't the foggiest idea.

Why do I look worried? I haven’t the foggiest idea.

By Jon Weisman

The debate over Frankie Montas’ Dodger future began the day he arrived: starter or reliever.

Frankie Montas: Future starter or fireman?

By Jon Weisman

On December 17, 2015

In Uncategorized

Jon Durr/Getty Images

By Jon Weisman

With many young pitchers, the Dodgers take their time to decide whether a starting or relief role is best. With newly acquired Frankie Montas, it will be no different.

Dodgers acquire trio from White Sox in three-way deal

By Jon Weisman

On December 16, 2015

In Transactions

From the Dodgers’ public relations department:

The Dodgers today announced the completion of a three-team trade with the Reds and White Sox, with the Dodgers receiving right-handed pitcher Frankie Montas, outfielder Trayce Thompson and second baseman Micah Johnson; the Reds receiving Jose Peraza, outfielder Scott Schebler and minor league infielder Brandon Dixon; and the White Sox receiving third baseman Todd Frazier.

Dodger Thoughts

Jon Weisman's outlet for dealing psychologically with the Los Angeles Dodgers, baseball and life

Tag: Frankie Montas

Dodgers acquire Josh Reddick, Rich Hill

Six Dodgers in Baseball America Top 100 update

Frankie Montas has another rib injury

Urías starts tonight, but for how much longer?

In case you missed it: Rehab games for many, but not Ethier

Frankie Montas begins rehab assignment

Dodgers sign Cuban RHP Yaisel Sierra

In case you missed it: Pitchers and catchers and avocados, oh my

Frankie Montas, starter or reliever (Part 2)

Frankie Montas: Future starter or fireman?

Dodgers acquire trio from White Sox in three-way deal

Buy ‘The Catch: A novel’

Buy ‘Brothers in Arms’

‘Brothers in Arms’ coverage

Instagram

Twitter

Recent posts

Other writing by Jon

Archives

Commenting guidelines

Attendance