The Milwaukee Brewers and the Cincinnati Reds are reportedly nearing an agreement that will send veteran right-hander Frankie Montas to Milwaukee in exchange for outfielder Joey Wiemer and righty Jakob Junis. While the deal is yet to be officially confirmed by either team, sources within the league indicate that the trade is imminent.
Montas' Recent Performance
Frankie Montas, 31, is currently on a one-year, $16 million contract. His performance this season has been a mixed bag, with a 5.01 ERA over 19 starts, totaling 93 1/3 innings. Most concerning for the Brewers may be his recent form: in his last eight starts, Montas has posted a 6.41 ERA and a .866 opponent's OPS. During this stretch, he’s averaged fewer than five innings per outing. The Brewers will be banking on the veteran rediscovering the form that once made him a sought-after arm in the league.
Brewers Bolstering Their Roster
This potential trade adds another layer to Milwaukee’s active month. Earlier, the Brewers acquired Aaron Civale from the Tampa Bay Rays and added right-handed reliever Nick Mears in a minor trade with the Colorado Rockies. Milwaukee, currently holding a 60-45 record and maintaining a six-game lead in the NL Central, appears determined to cement their position as they push for a postseason run.
What Milwaukee Sends in Return
In return for Montas, the Brewers are parting ways with Joey Wiemer and Jakob Junis. Wiemer, a 25-year-old outfielder and University of Cincinnati alum, showed potential in his rookie season in 2023, slashing .204/.283/.362 with 13 home runs. Junis, who is also on a one-year deal, will be joining the Reds as they look to build for the future.
Reds' Perspective
The Cincinnati Reds, with a 51-55 record and sitting 4.5 games out of a postseason spot, appear to be making strategic moves with an eye towards future seasons. In addition to being open to moving rental players like relievers Lucas Sims and Justin Wilson, there has been talk about potentially trading second baseman Jonathan India. With the acquisition of Wiemer and Junis, the Reds will be adding young, controllable talent to their roster—a sensible move given their current standing.
While no official announcements have been made yet, this trade reflects the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of Major League Baseball as teams constantly assess and reassess their strategies in bid to find that winning formula.