TAMPA, Fla — Frankie Montas won’t start throwing until at least late May following right shoulder surgery, a timetable that could allow him to pitch for the New York Yankees in the season’s second half.
Yankees Manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday the labrum of the 29-year-old right-hander was cleaned up during the procedure a day earlier and Montas’ rotator cuff did not need to be repaired. Montas won’t throw for 12 weeks.
“Everything went according to plan,” Boone said. “We’re day one out of surgery, so we have a long way to go from there. We’re hopeful at some point he can get back but I don’t want to best case, worst case.”
Montas 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.
Montas left a July 3 start at Seattle after 13 pitches with shoulder tightness. He returned July 21 and had a 2.25 ERA in starts against Detroit and Houston.
ASTROS: Right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. says he will miss Opening Day for the World Series champions because of a strained muscle in his pitching arm.
McCullers, sidelined for the first 4 1/2 months of last season while rehabbing from a right flexor pronator strain, noticed soreness after a bullpen session last week.
He had an MRI on Tuesday night. He told reporters Wednesday that it showed no structural damage to his elbow but will delay his start.
PHILLIES: The Philadelphia Phillies say Noah Song’s transfer from active duty to Navy selective reserves frees him up to join the team’s spring training camp on Thursday.
The 25-year-old from California, was taken by the Phillies in the winter meeting draft in December with hopes he would play after military service.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound right-hander was picked from the Boston Red Sox system in the draft for unprotected minor league players. Philadelphia put him on the military list while he continued active duty.
Song impressed in his only pro season, making seven starts for Boston’s Class-A Lowell affiliate in 2019, with a 1.06 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 17 innings. With a fastball clocked in the upper 90s mph, the right-hander dominated that year as a senior at the U.S. Naval Academy, going 11-1 with a 1.44 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 94 innings.
METS: Carlos Beltran talked to reporters on his first day back with the Mets’ organization. But he didn’t want to talk about the Houston Astros and cheating.
Beltran joined the Mets last week as a special assistant to GM Billy Eppler.
On Nov. 1, 2019, Beltran was hired by the Mets to replace Mickey Callaway as manager. But the team announced Beltran’s departure the following Jan. 16 without him managing a game.
Beltran’s departure was announced three days after he was the only Astros player mentioned by name in Major League Baseball’s report that concluded that Houston broke rules by using electronics to steal signs on the way to the 2017 World Series title.
“I felt like that was a moment that needed to happen, and I moved on,” Beltran said.
But that was about all he wanted to say about that.
“Today’s not about the Astros,” Beltran said. “Today is about the Mets.”
REDS: First baseman Joey Votto is still rehabbing from last summer’s shoulder and biceps surgery and may not be ready to play in the regular-season opener March 30.
The 39-year-old Votto is in the last season of a $251.5 million, 12-year contract.
“I have to get game reps,” he told reporters Sunday. “I need at-bats. I need game-speed reps. I haven’t come close to taking those yet. I’ve never been in this position before.”
RAYS: Free-agent outfielder Ben Gamel has agreed to a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.
Gamel, who turns 31 on May 17, will be given a chance to compete for a spot on the major league roster in spring training. He hit .232 with nine home runs and 46 RBI in 115 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022.
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