Brewers acquire Frankie Montas in trade with Reds

Joey Wiemer, Jakob Junis headed to Cincinnati in deal

The Brewers have reportedly acquired right-handed pitcher Frankie Montas in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds, sending outfielder Joey Wiemer and right-hander Jakob Junis back in the deal. Mark Feinsand was first to report the full details.

Montas, a nine-year veteran who spent the bulk of his career with the A’s but has also played for the White Sox, Yankees, and Reds, has struggled this season, with a 5.01 ERA (4.91 FIP, 85 ERA+) and 78 strikeouts across 93 ¹⁄₃ innings in 19 starts this year.

He signed a one-year deal with a $20 million mutual option for 2025 that includes a $2 million buyout.

Wiemer was blocked in the outfield for Milwaukee as he’s struggled in one-plus season with the major league squad, hitting .201/.277/.349 over 151 games with 13 homers, 42 RBIs, and 12 steals. He appeared in just 19 games with the Brewers this year, spending the bulk of the season with Triple-A Nashville where he’s hit .242/.387/.358 with three homers, 21 RBIs, and six steals across 53 games. He’s still pre-arbitration, meaning the Reds will have several years of team control.

Junis, an eight-year veteran who spent the first five years of his career with the Royals, signed a one-year deal with the Brewers for 2024 that includes a mutual option for 2025. He missed a chunk of the season with a right shoulder injury (also suffering a head injury in a scary moment in Pittsburgh), though he’s been solid when healthy, pitching to a 2.42 ERA (4.38 FIP, 176 ERA+) with 19 strikeouts across 26 innings in 10 appearances (one start).

Update: Feinsand reports that since both Montas and Junis have 2025 mutual options with buyouts, the Brewers will send $1 million to the Reds in the deal as Montas’ buyout is $2 million compared to $3 million for Junis.