Yankees can officially move on from dreaded Frankie Montas trade after latest signing

Another former New York Yankee is on the move, but it's safe to say fans won't feel anything in regard to this departure. In fact, some of us weren't happy when the team was reportedly scouting him earlier this offseason.

Lou Trivino signed a minor-league contract with the San Francisco Giants on Thursday, ending his three-year tenure in the Bronx that featured a grand total of 25 games pitched. A classic Yankees tale of standing by somebody with a career-altering injury.

Trivino was the other piece that came over in the Frankie Montas trade back in 2022. He was an extremely effective arm out of the bullpen that year, pitching to a 1.66 ERA, 3.34 FIP and 1.29 WHIP across 21 2/3 innings. He routinely took care of business when called upon. He also tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings against the Guardians and Astros in the playoffs.

But then came March of 2023 when he was placed on the injured list with an elbow strain, and so it began. It was believed he would return at the end of April that year, but he suffered a setback, got a second opinion on his elbow, and then promptly underwent Tommy John surgery in May. He earned $4.1 million and didn't throw a pitch that year.

Then came the offseason. The Yankees non-tendered him but brought him back on a $1.5 million deal, hoping he'd be able to return and rebound at a bargain price.

Yankees News: Lou Trivino departs for Giants on minor league contract

Then, all of a sudden, he was slated for a midseason return. Then he suffered another setback. He didn't start throwing until July, meaning there was never really a chance he'd get back up to speed and contribute. By September, he was completely shut down from throwing. It was official: Trivino wouldn't throw a pitch in pinstripes for two full seasons despite earning $5.6 million.

When the 2024 offseason arrived, Trivino's $5 million club option was rejected, but the Yankees couldn't quit him. The right-hander held a bullpen session for teams to watch, and New York was in attendance. What more did they need to see? They had just gotten burned to the maximum degree.

It appears they came to their senses, however. They re-signed Tim Hill, which felt long overdue, and then moved on from the cursed Montas trade, which brought them absolutely nothing of substance or value. None of this was Trivino's fault. In fact, fans had been incessantly rooting for his return because of how promising he looked in 2022.

As it all dragged on, though, it became a familiar Yankees narrative: a lack of production due to nagging injuries/complications and money wasted. Trivino will now return to the Bay Area, and hopefully he can get back on track with a fresh start in a new setting.