According to Erin Walsh of Bleacher Report, the New York Yankees are one of the top options for free agent Jordan Montgomery to sign. The Yankees will be missing Gerrit Cole for “one to two months,” according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The organization has been active in the starting pitcher market this winter and could be a suitor for Montgomery.
The Yankees were linked to Blake Snell earlier this offseason. They also proposed Dylan Cease to the Chicago White Sox. On March 18, Snell agreed to a two-year, $62 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. Cease was traded to the San Diego Padres on March 13. Montgomery would be a “decent consolation prize,” according to Walsh.
The Yankees made a last $150 million offer to Snell earlier this summer, but “pulled their offer and declined to re-enter the sweepstakes,” USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale said.
“Montgomery would be a solid addition to a New York rotation that also includes Nestor Cortes, who was named the Opening Day starter, Carlos Rodón and Marcus Stroman,” he wrote.
Jordan Montgomery would solidify the Yankees’ rotation.
Cole is suffering from nerve irritation and edema, according to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. His absence from the Yankees’ rotation to begin the season is a significant blow.
The 33-year-old won his first Cy Young Award in 2023, having previously finished second twice. Cole led the American League in ERA (2.53), record (15-4) and innings pitched (209.0).
Cortes will start for the Yankees on Opening Day, with Rodón and Stroman following. Cortes and Rodón have both recovered from injury-plagued seasons. Montgomery, who recently won the World Series, made 32 starts in 2023 for the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers. In Cole’s absence, he would add veteran depth to the rotation.
Montgomery had a 3.20 ERA over 188.2 innings for the Cardinals and Rangers. However, Montgomery improved as a pitcher after being traded to the Rangers on July 30. Montgomery had a 4-2 record and a 2.79 ERA with the Rangers. Montgomery was 3-1 in the postseason during the Rangers’ championship season.
Reuniting Montgomery with the Yankees
The Yankees selected Montgomery in 2014. He made his debut for the club in 2017 and remained in New York until 2022. The Yankees traded Montgomery to the Cardinals midway through the season. He had a 22-20 record with the Yankees, a 3.94 ERA, and a 1.23 WHIP in 98 games, 97 of which he started. Montgomery made 17 starts over three seasons, from 2018 to 2020, while dealing with various elbow problems.
Montgomery is expected to receive a six-year, $110 million contract, according to Spotrac. However, Heyman believes the 31-year-old is unlikely to return to the Yankees.
“The Yankees will continue to pursue starting pitching but their options are limited, particularly since they are even less confident Jordan Montgomery, the top remaining free agent, is interested in returning to The Bronx,” Heyman stated in an email.
Montgomery believes the Yankees may have given up on him when they moved him to the Cardinals in 2022, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.
According to Walsh, Montgomery’s other top landing locations include the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, and Rangers.
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