The Yankees unexpectedly traded left-hander Jordan Montgomery to the Cardinals for outfielder Harrison Bader, along with a player to be named later or cash considerations, minutes before Tuesday’s Trade Deadline.
Bader, a centre fielder with a Gold Glove award who was raised close to Yankee Stadium, is currently out with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Even though Bader is not anticipated to play until at least September, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he thought the move was worthwhile.
TRADE DETAILS
Yankees get: OF Harrison Bader
Cardinals get: LHP Jordan Montgomery
The 28-year-old Bader, a native of Bronxville, New York, and a Horace Mann School alumnus, was hitting. This season, he batted 256/.303/.370 with five home runs, 21 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. He last performed on June 26.
Bader, who has a contract through 2023 and recorded a.756 OPS in 2018, received votes for Rookie of the Year on the down ballot.
Aaron Judge will be moved out of the center field by the Yankees for the second half in an effort to preserve his legs for the postseason run. A judge has started 52 games in center field for the Yankees this season, more than Aaron Hicks (49) and other players combined.
Right-hander Frankie Montas, who was acquired from the Athletics on Monday, will replace Montgomery in the rotation, according to Cashman. With Luis Severino expected to return in the middle of September, New York will now have a starting lineup of Gerrit Cole, Montas, Jameson Taillon, Nestor Cortes, and Domingo Germán.
In 21 starts this season, the 29-year-old Montgomery went 3-3 with a 3.69 ERA and 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings.
Montgomery is a six-year veteran who was initially drafted by the Yankees in the fourth round of the MLB Draft in 2014 out of the University of South Carolina. In 98 career games, he has a record of 22-20 with a 3.94 ERA (97 starts).
