Agencies-Gaza post
Harrison Bader goes to Yanks from Cards for Montgomery
In a wonderful move that landed just ahead of Tuesday’s Trade Deadline, the Yankees acquired outfielder Harrison Bader with a player to be called or cash contemplations from the Cardinals in exchange for left-hander Jordan Montgomery.
Bader, a Gold Glove-winning middle fielder who grew up near Yankee Stadium, is currently on the wounded list with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that he felt the action was worth making, even though Bader is not expected to play until at least September.
“Harrison Bader is one of the elite center-field defenders in the game,” Cashman stated. “He provides a lot of lanes for us and our manager when he’s healthy. Certainly, we did a deep dive into his medicals, and there’s a lot of optimism and belief that sometime in September we’ll be able to unpack that present and deploy him.”
An outcome of Bronxville, N.Y., who graduated from Horace Mann School in the Bronx, the 28-year-old Bader was batting .256/.303/.370 with five homers, 21 RBIs, and 15 swiped grounds this season. He has not played since June 26.
Bader made down-ballot Rookie of the Year says in 2018, when he published a .756 OPS, and is under accord through 2023.
“He’s a 60-to-70 defender, 60-to-70 runner that can impact our team in many ways, whether it’s coming off the bench to steal a bag or as a starting option in the outfield,” Cashman reported.
The Yankees have spoken about their plan to move Aaron Judge out of center field in the second half, hoping to keep his legs fresher for the postseason drive. A judge has begun 52 games in center field this level, the most on the Yanks’ roster, ahead of Aaron Hicks (49) and others.
“It’s hard to get your hands on someone of that caliber,” Cashman added, “and unfortunately it cost us one of our homegrown players in Jordan Montgomery that we’ve relied a lot on. I’m sorry to see Montgomery go; he’s a really good pitcher and a really good person.”
Cashman clarified that right-hander Frankie Montas got from the Athletics on Monday, will take Montgomery’s rotation slot. That gives New York a starting five of Gerrit Cole, Montas, Jameson Taillon, Nestor Cortes, and Domingo Germán, with Luis Severino set to return in mid-September.
The 29-year-old Montgomery was 3-3 with a 3.69 ERA in 21 begins this season, striking out 7.6 batters per nine innings.
“This is my family,” Montgomery added. “This is all I know. I’ve been playing with the same guys for years. I’m going to miss [Aaron] Judge, going to miss Jamo. It’s tough.”
A six-year veteran who was originally chosen by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB Draft from the University of South Carolina, Montgomery is 22-20 with a 3.94 ERA in 98 career games (97 starts).
Montgomery last pitched on Sunday against the Royals, allowing four runs in four-plus innings and taking a no-decision. His next start, coincidentally, could come against the Yankees — New York visits St. Louis for a three-game series that opens on Friday.
“It’s going to be weird,” Montgomery added. “Whatever they need me to do over there, I’ll do it. It’s just weird timing.”
