MLB Rumors: Insider Pegs Favorite To Land Frankie Montas

As the Oakland A's fire sale is nearly complete, the one big ace in the hole they still hold is starting pitcher Frankie Montas. And the word from respected MLB Insider Buster Olney is that huge card the A's have yet to play, could actually be a 'Card' soon—as in St. Louis Cardinals.

The Cardinals are viewed by some rival execs as a favorite to get Oakland's Frankie Montas, because they have the most acute need -- and because it'd be tough for them to land Castillo or Mahle from the division-rival Reds.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 2, 2022

Olney says "the Cardinals are viewed by some rival execs as a favorite to get Oakland's Frankie Montas, because they have the most acute need." That is, the St. Louis starting rotation is without two of their expected five starters, Jack Flaherty and Steven Matz, and are struggling to keep pace with the Milwaukee Brewers for 1st place in the NL Central; the Cards are currently one game back.

There are a couple of other very solid starting pitchers that appear to be available on the trade market, but Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle pitch for the Cincinnati Reds, and as Olney points out, it'd be tough for the Cards to land either of those from their division-rivals.

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