'I'm here right now': Montas shuts out noise, beats Astros

OAKLAND -- All eyes were on Frankie Montas Tuesday night, including those of several scouts in attendance at the Coliseum looking to get a final look at the A’s right-hander before the Aug. 2 Trade Deadline.

Around this time last month, Montas was arguably the top target for contending teams in search of a starting pitcher. However, a shoulder issue that led to an early departure from his start on July 3 in Seattle sidelined him through the All-Star break and clouded his trade candidacy as questions lingered over his health.

Two starts back from the injury, Montas appears to have re-established his market value. Over five innings and 78 pitches in a 5-3 victory that secured Oakland a series victory over the Astros, Montas limited a potent Houston offense to three runs (two earned) on seven hits while walking three batters (two intentionally) and striking out four.

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It wasn’t the sharpest Montas has looked this year, but the qualities that make him such a highly sought-after pitcher were still evident. The right-hander’s fastball maxed out at 96.6 mph and his dominant splitter was thrown 25 times, accounting for five of his nine whiffs (swings-and-misses).

“I don’t think he had his best stuff, but he managed to get through that game and feels good,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “Frankie’s been through a little bit of personal, off-the-field things that have weighed on him a little bit. For him to go out and compete, he gave us all he had tonight.”

Walking off the mound after inducing a flyout of Aledmys Díaz to end the top of the fifth, Montas’ warm-up song, “Pa’ Que Retozen” by Tego Calderon, blared over the Coliseum speakers while he received an ovation from the Oakland faithful. In that moment, Montas soaked in what could have possibly been his final time pitching in an A’s uniform.

It was a flashback to the journey he’s taken over his time with the organization. Over his six-plus seasons in Oakland, Montas evolved from just another hard thrower to premier pitcher, thanks in large part to that superb splitter he learned on the suggestion of pitching coach Scott Emerson while fighting for a spot in the A’s rotation during 2019 Spring Training.

“I’m not gonna lie, of course I’ve been thinking about it,” Montas said of the trade rumors. “Especially with the deadline coming up pretty soon. There was a time today that I thought, ‘Hey, this might be my last start here.’”

The overall numbers remain solid for Montas, who in 19 starts is now 4-9 with a 3.18 ERA and 109 strikeouts across 104 2/3 innings.

Another appealing factor for teams looking to acquire his services could be his success when facing these first-place Astros. Over his last six starts against Houston, Montas has posted a 2.21 ERA, going at least six innings in four of those six outings.

"He wasn't vintage Frankie Montas tonight,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “We've seen him better, but he knows how to pitch, and he pitched good enough to hold our offense down."

Coming off throwing just 53 pitches in his previous start, Kotsay said he did not want Montas to push too far past an unofficial limit of around 75 pitches. Though he lacked his typical premium “stuff” on Tuesday, neither Kotsay nor Montas sensed any fatigue towards the end of the outing.

“I felt pretty good,” Montas said. “My legs were a little tired. Besides that, my arm was good. I feel healthy. Just a couple of mistakes today, but I felt like I looked pretty good out there.”

Chad Pinder, who supplied a majority of the A’s offense Tuesday with his second grand slam of July and the fourth of his career, could also find his name increasingly starting to come up in trade discussions due to his increased offensive production this month.

“I’d be lying to say that it’s not [in our minds],” Pinder said. “At the end of the day, you have to strap it on and go play. You have a job to do. I think Frankie’s handled it as professionally as you can, especially him being the obvious big name that’s at the forefront of a lot of [trade] talks from our team. To come in to get his work done and continue to work hard and separate that noise. To do what he did the last two starts, and really the whole year, speaks to the type of competitor he is.”

If a trade does come to fruition over the next week, how would Montas react to such a development?

“I’m trying to think of the good moments that I’ve been part of here,” he said. “I’m here right now. Whatever happens, I’m still an Oakland A.”