(New York) The New York Yankees decided to stock up on guns ahead of the trade-in deadline. They first acquired Chicago Cubs rookie Scott Effross, before securing starter Frankie Montas and replacement Lou Trivino from the Oakland Athletics.
Effross, a right-hander, is 1-4 with a 2.66 ERA and a preserved win in 47 games this year. He made his major league debut last season, going 2-1 and averaging 3.68 in 14 games with the Cubs.
In the rebuild, the Cubs recovered the right-handed Hayden Wesneski. The 2019 sixth-round pick is 24 years old and has a 6-7 record and an ERA of 3.51 in 19 games with farm club AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
In exchange for Montas and Trivino, the Yankees traded 26-year-old rookie southpaw JP Sears, as well as three minor league players: 24-year-old southpaw Ken Waldichuk – the club’s fifth prospect according to MLB.com -, Luis Medina, 23, and infielder Cooper Bowman, 22.
Montas, a 29-year-old right-hander, is 4-9, 3.19 in 19 games. He earns $5.025 million and will be eligible for refereeing this winter, before enjoying full free agency after the 2023 season.
Trivino, 30, is having a season that has fallen short of expectations with a record of 1-6, 6.47 and 10 saves in 13 chances. He receives a salary of 3 million this season and will be eligible for refereeing after the first two campaigns, before enjoying full autonomy.
In two starts and five relief appearances, Sears is 2-0 with a stellar GAA of 2.05.
Rays get Cleanger
The Tampa Bay Rays have signed southpaw Garrett Cleavinger from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for minor league outfielder German Tapia.
The Rays said Monday that Cleavinger, who has spent most of the past three seasons in MLB with the Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies, will report to farm club AAA Durham. In order to make room for him on the 40-man roster, the Rays put right-hander Luke Bard’s name on waivers so they could transfer him to the minor leagues.
In 27 career games, Cleavanger, 27, is 2-5 with an ERA of 4.70.
The MLB trading deadline is Tuesday 6pm.
Mancini and Vazquez go to the Astros
Houston acquired first baseman Trey Mancini from the Baltimore Orioles, in a three-club trade.
First base Yuli Gurriel falls short of what the Astros expected this year.
The American’s batting champion last year (.319), he is averaging just .243 in 2022 with seven home runs and 28 RBIs.
Mancini could also be the hitter of choice, especially as Michael Brantley is out with a shoulder injury.
Mancini, 30, is hitting 0.268 this year with 10 homers and 41 RBIs.
He had played with the Orioles since his major league debut in 2016.
Houston also hosted minor league right-hander Jayden Murray from Tampa Bay.
The Astros sent outfielder Jose Siri to the Rays and smaller right-hander Chayce McDermott to the Orioles.
Later in the day, the Astros acquired Boston Red Sox wide receiver Christian Vázquez in exchange for infielder Enmanuel Valdez and outfielder Wilyer Abreu.
Vázquez has hit .282 this season with eight home runs and 42 RBIs in 84 games.
