CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 22: Jordan Montgomery #48 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrates with Albert Pujols #5 after the final out of his complete game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on August 22, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
According to a report by Erin Walsh of Bleacher Report, the New York Yankees are considered a prime destination for free agent Jordan Montgomery. With Gerrit Cole expected to be sidelined for “one to two months,” as reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Yankees have intensified their search for starting pitchers. Having shown interest in Blake Snell earlier in the offseason, the Yankees remain active in the starting pitcher market and could pursue Montgomery as a potential addition to their roster.
Earlier in the offseason, the New York Yankees expressed interest in acquiring Blake Snell and even submitted a proposal for Dylan Cease to the Chicago White Sox. However, on March 18, Snell opted for a two-year, $62 million deal with the San Francisco Giants. Similarly, Cease was traded to the San Diego Padres on March 13. In light of these developments, Erin Walsh suggests that signing Jordan Montgomery could serve as a satisfactory alternative for the Yankees. Despite having made a final offer of $150 million to Snell earlier in the offseason, the Yankees withdrew their proposal and chose not to continue pursuing him, as reported by Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY.
Walsh noted that Jordan Montgomery would bolster the New York Yankees’ rotation, joining the likes of Nestor Cortes, who has been designated as the Opening Day starter, along with Carlos Rodón and Marcus Stroman.
Jordan Montgomery Would Solidify the Yankees’ Rotation
Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports that Gerrit Cole is suffering from nerve inflammation and edema, which is a significant setback for the New York Yankees as he will be absent from their rotation at the beginning of the season.
At 33 years old, Cole secured his first Cy Young Award in 2023, following two previous runner-up finishes in his career. Leading the American League with a 2.53 ERA, a 15-4 record, and 209.0 innings pitched, Cole showcased remarkable performance on the mound.
Nestor Cortes is set to kick off the opening day for the Yankees, with Carlos Rodón and Marcus Stroman following suit. Both Cortes and Rodón are returning from seasons marked by injuries. Meanwhile, Jordan Montgomery, fresh off a World Series triumph, amassed 32 starts in 2023 split between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers. His veteran presence would be valuable for the rotation during Gerrit Cole’s absence.
Across 188.2 innings, Montgomery maintained a 3.20 ERA for the Cardinals and Rangers combined. Notably, his performance improved after joining the Rangers on July 30, as he tallied a 4-2 record with a 2.79 ERA. Additionally, Montgomery proved his mettle in the postseason, boasting a 3-1 record during the Rangers’ championship campaign.
Reuniting Montgomery With the Yankees
Jordan Montgomery was drafted by the Yankees in 2014 and made his debut for the club in 2017, staying with them until 2022 when he was traded to the Cardinals mid-season. During his time with the Yankees, he amassed a 22-20 record, along with a 3.94 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP across 98 games, predominantly as a starter with 97 starts. However, he faced challenges with multiple elbow injuries, limiting him to 17 starts over three seasons from 2018 to 2020.
According to projections from Spotrac, Montgomery is expected to secure a lucrative six-year, $110 million contract. Nevertheless, there are doubts about his interest in returning to the Yankees, as noted by Heyman. There’s a sense that Montgomery may feel the Yankees gave up on him when they traded him to the Cardinals in 2022, as per insights from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
In addition to the Yankees, other potential landing spots for Montgomery include the Boston Red Sox, the Houston Astros, and the Rangers, according to Walsh.
