Yankees’ Montas to miss first month of season with shoulder injury

New York Yankees’ Frankie Montas is expected to miss the first month of the regular season with shoulder inflammation.

The 29-year-old right-hander and the Yankees avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $7.5 million deal on Friday, a number that likely would have been higher without the shoulder concerns.

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Montas missed two weeks with the A’s last season after being forced out of a July 3 start. He then landed on the 15-day IL on Sept. 20 with the Yankees after eight mostly lackluster outings — including a final start in Milwaukee, after which an MRI exam also showed inflammation in the shoulder.

Montas was the Yankees’ top pitching acquisition at last year’s trade deadline after they missed out on Luis Castillo, who went from the Reds to the Mariners and has since signed a massive extension to stay in Seattle.