Frankie Montas injury update: Popular trade deadline target still in play

Oakland Athletics starter Frankie Montas will miss at least one start, but should be back shortly thereafter, per manager Mark Kotsay.

The A’s got the results of Montas’ MRI on Wednesday, which confirmed what Kotsay and the training staff said earlier this week. Thankfully for Oakland and the rest of baseball, Montas is merely day-to-day, rather than forced to miss significant time.

An IL stint could theoretically follow, but for now rest is the prescription. Montas’ MRI showed inflammation in his shoulder but no structural damage.

For now, no long-term decision has been made, but the A’s have bought themselves a bit of time. Montas is the biggest pitching name on the trade market right now. If he stays remotely healthy, there’s a good chance he’s dealt before the Aug. 2 deadline. He was expected to fetch a top prospect and more before his injury.

Frankie Montas rumors: Cardinals lead the pack

ESPN’s Buster Olney reported over the weekend that St. Louis was deemed the frontrunner for Montas, though other insiders have cast doubt about that. The Cards are attached to several of their own top prospects, including Nolan Gorman, who could be Oakland’s demand for a return.

While the Cardinals lack pitching in their own right, they will not mortgage their future for Montas.

The Mets and White Sox have both been connected to Montas at various points this season. New York’s interest has cooled now that Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom are slowly getting healthy. The White Sox intensity of this front depends a lot on how well they perform leading up to August, as they’re currently three games under .500 and 6.5 games back in a below-average AL Central.

Montas’ murky future will gain some clarity with his eventual injury outcome.