'I just want to go out there and just pitch'. Will Yanks Frankie Montas get that chance?
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Before the party’s over, Frankie Montas wants one last dance in 2023.
“It’s been almost a year since I’ve pitched in the big leagues. I feel really good, I’m healthy now,’’ Montas said Friday afternoon, having reappeared in the Yankees’ clubhouse.
“I just want to go out there and just pitch.’’
Beyond that, Montas hopes to find a way into the Yankees’ plans for 2024, despite a brief and injury-riddled period in pinstripes.
“I wanted to come here and show the type of pitcher they got, and I wasn’t able to,’’ said Montas, referencing the shoulder issues that plagued him since 2022.
“(I’m) looking forward to the future. Hopefully it’s here.’’
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Chances of a reunion with Montas seem slim, though manager Aaron Boone said he could see a scenario where the soon-to-be free agent right-hander returns to the Yanks.
“He put himself in this position (to pitch),’’ Boone said of Montas’ rehab following shoulder surgery, taking him out of the rotation before this season began.
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The Yankees have far deeper offseason priorities, including the promised deep organizational dive – conducted by an outside firm – to assess items such as the Yanks’ recent run of failed trades.
Montas’ acquisition from the Oakland Athletics near the 2022 trade deadline is high on that list.
In exchange for pitching prospects Ken Waldichuk, JP Sears, Luis Medina and minor league infielder Cooper Bowman, the Yankees received Montas and reliever Lou Trivino (who missed this season due to Tommy John surgery).
In just eight starts for the Yanks last summer, Montas went 1-3 with a 6.35 ERA before his early season shoulder problems resurfaced.
Montas made it back for one inning of postseason, during the Houston Astros’ sweep of the Yankees in the AL Championship Series.
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In this extremely brief window, with three games left in a lost Yankees season, Montas feels it’s personally important to toss an inning or two against the last place Kansas City Royals.
“I feel like, if I’m healthy, why not go out there and pitch and test the shoulder out?’’ said Montas.
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Boone was noncommittal about using Montas this weekend at Kauffman Stadium.
“More than anything, I want to get through (Friday), decide exactly what we’re going to do,’’ Boone said of the process before activating Montas off the injured list.
Montas could be in play on Saturday, following starter Clarke Schmidt. Michael King starts Sunday’s season finale for the Yankees, who have missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
By making even one appearance this weekend, there’s at least some value in showing teams that he’s a viable free agent target.
Still, “I want to do it for myself,’’ Montas said of getting into one game more Yankees game. “I want to do this for me, mentally.’’
Montas said his rehab “went pretty smooth, no issues. I was feeling good, the velo was coming back, there was no pain at all in my shoulder.’’
As an initial test, Montas got through two short minor league rehab outings without a problem.
The worst part of rehab was “watching the team’’ from afar, unable to assist a club that sunk rapidly in the second half.
“Feel like next year will be way different,’’ Montas said. “Hopefully, I’m back here.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Frankie Montas wants to pitch for Yankees before season ends. Will he?
