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TAMPA, Fla. — Frankie Montas needs shoulder surgery and will miss most or all of the New York Yankees‘ season.
As pitchers and catchers reported to spring training Wednesday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the right-hander will have right shoulder surgery on Feb. 21. Boone said Montas could possibly return in the second half of the season.
Montas, 29, was acquired from Oakland on Aug 1. and went 1-3 with a 6.35 ERA in eight starts with the Yankees. He didn’t pitch after Sept. 16 due to inflammation in his pitching shoulder.
“He was building back up and just still wasn’t quite right,” Boone said. “Now we’ve gotten to the point where they’re going to go in. They’ll scope it and then we’ll have a better idea of timeframe.”
If it is “just a scope,” Boone added, then Montas “could be back late in the year.”
Montas told ESPN’s Marly Rivera that he feels really “positive” and “encouraged” by his last MRI, and expected “no major issues” from the surgery.
Montas left a July 3 start at Seattle after 13 pitches with shoulder tightness — his velocity was down about 3 mph. He returned July 21 and had a 2.25 ERA in starts against Detroit and Houston.
“I think we’re comfortable with where he’s at, shoulderwise,” Boone said at the time of the trade.
New York left-hander Nestor Cortes is sidelined by a strained right hamstring and is uncertain for Opening Day.
Gerrit Cole, newcomer Carlos Rodon and Luis Severino project to be part of a rotation that also could include Domingo German and Clarke Schmidt.
“Obviously, losing Frankie is clearly a blow,” Boone said. “But we also feel very confident in those that are going to now maybe get an opportunity because he’s not there initially.
“You always see surprises each and every year of guys kind of kicking the door and taking advantage of an opportunity,” he continued. “I’m excited about the talent we have in the room.”
Reliever Michael King, coming back from a fractured right elbow that required surgery, said he is 100 percent and has no limitations at spring training. King was 6-3 with a 2.29 ERA in 34 outings in 2022 before the season-ending injury in July.
Information from The Associated Press and ESPN’s Marly Rivera included in this report.
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