MLB Insider says Cardinals the favorite to acquire Frankie Montas

MLB Insider Buster Olney talked to rival executives who believe the St. Louis Cardinals are the favorite to acquire Frankie Montas.

Late last week, we wrote that the St. Louis Cardinals were unlikely to trade for Oakland A’s ace Frankie Montas, citing the asking price for the consensus best starting pitcher on the trade market. But not everyone views it that way.

Buster Olney of ESPN talked to multiple rival executives who view the Cardinals as the favorites to acquire Montas, considering that they have the “most acute need” after losing Jack Flaherty to yet another shoulder injury.

One thing we should make clear: these are rival executives’ opinions, not Cardinals or A’s executives. So they are not directly involved. Part of their calculus, Olney said, is that it is highly unlikely that the Cincinnati Reds will trade either Luis Castillo or Tyler Mahle to a division rival, which makes it infinitely more difficult for St. Louis to acquire a difference-making starting pitcher.

But it is interesting nonetheless that rival executives believe this. Are they hearing something? Are they merely speculating? We don’t know. But I am still of the belief that acquiring Montas is unlikely for the Cardinals because 1) the absorbent asking price and 2) that Montas’ market will be extremely active and the front office has typically avoided getting into bidding wars.

That said, Montas would help. He would give the Cardinals an ace for at least the next 1.5 seasons, as he’s signed through 2023. The 29-year-old has a 3.20 ERA and 99/24 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 95.2 innings and would also provide the innings-eater starter that the team lacks (he threw 187 innings last season).

Do I expect the Cardinals to explore the Frankie Montas trade market? Of course. But I expect there to be multiple teams more aggressive and more willing to part with the prospects necessary to facilitate a trade, making a Montas trade to St. Louis unlikely.