BREAKING NEWS: Yankees restart talks with free-agent starter after losing Gerrit Cole to…

The New York Yankees are in discussions once again with free-agent pitcher Jordan Montgomery, as reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. However, it remains uncertain if an agreement will be reached, as there is still a difference in positions between the two parties.

Montgomery, aged 31, played for the Yankees for over five years before being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals midway through the 2022 season. He was subsequently traded to the Texas Rangers before the last deadline, where he played a key role in helping them secure their first-ever World Series championship.

Throughout his career, Montgomery has accumulated a 3.68 ERA (with a 116 ERA+) and a 3.41 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 141 major league appearances, nearly all of which were starts. CBS Sports ranked him as the 10th-best free agent available this winter, highlighting his capabilities.

Montgomery is the starting pitcher version of cottage cheese. He’s not exciting. No one looks forward to watching him. You don’t want your team making big plans around him. But he’s reliable, and he can be part of something good if he’s put into the right situation. To be clear: none of this is meant to insult Montgomery. His high-grade control and durability have afforded him three consecutive good seasons. He’s just better served when he’s not cast as the main attraction. 

Due to nerve irritation in his throwing elbow, the Yankees anticipate being without their ace Gerrit Cole for the beginning of the season. As a result, their projected rotation consists of Nestor Cortes, Marcus Stroman, and Clarke Schmidt. Although the fifth starter hasn’t been officially announced, right-handers Clayton Beeter, Will Warren, and Luis Gil seem to be the most likely internal candidates for the role.