Reds' trade deadline departure makes perplexing contract decision

The Cincinnati Reds traded Frankie Montas to the Milwaukee Brewers at the 2024 MLB trade deadline. Reports suggested that Milwaukee was originally pursuing Chicago White Sox starter Erick Fedde, but the St. Louis Cardinals swooped in a snagged the right-hander at the last minute.

That forced the Brewers to pivot, and Milwaukee settled on Montas. The Brew Crew shipped pitcher Jakob Junis and outfielder Joey Wiemer to Cincinnati to seal the deal. Montas appeared in 11 games for the Brewers, and the results were quite similar the numbers he put up for the Reds.

Montas finished the 2024 season with a 7-11 record — far less than the 20 wins he predicted prior to the season — and a 4.84 ERA. Statistically speaking, it was one of Montas' worst seasons ever. The right-hander had a decision to make about his future in Milwaukee after agreeing to a one-year, $16 million contract with the Reds last offseason. If you'll remember, Montas' deal contained a mutual option for 2025 worth $20 million that he curiously declined on Monday afternoon.

Reds trade deadline departure Frankie Montas makes perplexing contract decision

Now, let's not totally overreact to this news. Had Montas actually exercised his end of the mutual option, it's quite likely that Milwaukee would have said thanks, but no thanks and declined their end. Either way, Montas was walking away with the $2 million buyout and entering the free agent market. But one would think that Montas would at least attempt to force Milwaukee's hand, right?

Montas now enters a crowded field of free agent pitchers that includes the aforementioned Junis, along with Nick Martinez. The Reds' hurler exercised his opt-out last week, but on Monday, the Reds extended a qualifying offer to Martinez. The right-hander now has two weeks to decide whether he wants to accept or decline the offer. If Martinez accepts, he'll be paid a little more than $21 million next season.

Montas, on the other hand, is unlikely to sniff anything close to that number. While Montas showed that he is fully healthy in 2024, the numbers don't suggest he'll be a team's Opening Day starter for the second consecutive season. There's an outside chance that Cincinnati could look for a reunion with Montas this offseason, but that seems highly unlikely.

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