NEW YORK (AP) — The trade market got busy ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, with the New York Yankees acquiring pitcher Frankie Montas from Oakland for four prospects.
As contenders bulked up ahead of stretch runs and possible postseason appearances, San Diego got All-Star closer Josh Hader from first-place Milwaukee on Monday, and Houston obtained designated hitter/first baseman Trey Mancini from Baltimore as part of a three-team trade that included Tampa Bay. The AL West leaders also added catcher Christian Vázquez from Boston, which in turn acquired outfielder Tommy Pham from Cincinnati.
World Series champion Atlanta brought back infielder Ehire Adrianza from Washington, the Yankees got reliever Scott Effross from the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox obtained left-hander Jake Diekman from Boston.
Montas became the second front-line starting pitcher to switch teams ahead of the deadline, after Seattle got Luis Castillo from Cincinnati. In exchange for the 29-year-old right-hander and struggling reliever Lou Trivino, the Yankees sent payroll-paring Oakland 26-year-old rookie left-hander J.P. Sears along with three minor leaguers: 24-year-old lefty Ken Waldichuk, 23-year-old right-hander Luis Medina and 22-year-old infielder Cooper Bowman.
Montas is 4-9 with a 3.18 ERA in 19 starts, including a 2.76 ERA since the start of May. He has 109 strikeouts and 28 walks in 104 2/3 innings.
“His level of talent, especially with how he’s pitched the last couple years, just excited to get him in the mix,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s got the full arsenal and stuff you look for in a top-of-the-rotation guy. Gone out and proved last couple years he is that kind of caliber pitcher.”
Hader went to the Padres for recently demoted closer Taylor Rogers, right-hander…