In a corresponding move to clear room on the 40-man roster for the signing of Cuban right-hander Yaisel Sierra, the Los Angeles Dodgers placed Frankie Montas on the 60-day disabled list on Sunday.
Montas underwent rib resection surgery on Feb. 12 and at the time of the procedure, had a two-to-four month recovery timeline set. Like Brandon McCarthy, who was placed on the 60-day DL on Friday, isn’t eligible to be reinstated until June 2.
The time for days spent on the disabled list don’t officially begin counting until the first day of the Major League Baseball season, which is Sunday, April 4.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Montas’ surgery isn’t as severe as the operation Josh Beckett underwent in 2013 when he also had a rib removed, though to treat Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.
“There wasn’t a vascular issue. They debated in terms of how to treat it and ultimately came to the conclusion they should remove [the rib],” Friedman said on Friday. “There aren’t a ton of examples in terms of looking at what you expect the recovery to be. Guys who have had the vascular issue, it’s pretty defined.
“But, it was meaningful enough that [the recovery] is going to take a couple of months. Then you have to ramp him back up and get his arm back in shape. All in all, it’s not anything we feel will limit him once we get him back.”
Montas felt the discomfort during the winter, but continued with his workouts under the expectation the pain would eventually subside. That was never the case however, and he alerted Dodgers trainers in the Dominican Republic in January.
Montas, who will turn 23 years old on March 21, was acquired by the Dodgers in a three-team trade last December with the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds. Los Angeles also received prospects Micah Johnson and Trayce Thomspon in the trade.
Last season Montas went 5-5 with a 2.97 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 23 starts with Double-A Birmingham. He made his Major League debut and pitched seven games for the White Sox (two starts) throughout September, going 0-2 with a 4.80 ERA in 15 innings.
Montas, who has 92 career Minor League outings under his belt, first signed with the Boston Red Sox in 2009. Of his 92 career Minor League outings, 80 have come as a starter. In 382.2 career innings, Montas has a 3.86 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 390 strikeouts.
