BREAKING: Yankees ‘Have Not Shut Door’ on Adding Projected $110 Million Brilliant Star: Report
It has been a puzzling situation in Major League Baseball this spring. Despite an impressive performance in the postseason that helped the Rangers win the World Series, left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery has not been able to secure the lucrative contract many believed he was seeking. Throughout the winter and now into the spring, Montgomery has remained unsigned, even as teams like the Yankees and others faced significant injuries to key pitchers.
According to a report by Joel Sherman of the New York Post, both the Yankees and the Mets are keeping in touch with Montgomery and his agent, Scott Boras. With their star pitchers Gerrit Cole and Kodai Senga expected to be out of action for the start of the season, Montgomery could serve as a convenient solution for both New York teams.
Sherman suggests that there is still a possibility for Montgomery to return to New York, where he spent the first six seasons of his career before being traded to the Cardinals in 2022. The Yankees had concerns about Montgomery’s lack of strikeout ability when he was with them previously, which influenced their decision to trade him.
Although those concerns may still exist, the recent injury to Gerrit Cole has left the Yankees in need of pitching depth, making Montgomery a viable option for a quick fix to their roster issues.
Both the Yankees and Mets are keeping their interest in Jordan Montgomery alive, as reported by Sherman this week
The two New York teams have not completely closed the door on Montgomery, signaling a potential opportunity for his return. The Mets had a comparable approach with another Boras client, J.D. Martinez, where they had a predetermined price in mind and acted when the opportunity aligned, like they did when they signed Martinez to a one-year, $12 million contract with deferred payments.
On the other hand, the Yankees have communicated their comfortable salary range for Montgomery to Boras, but there seems to be a discrepancy in their negotiations even at this stage.
Montgomery, like some of Boras’s other clients such as Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Blake Snell, and J.D. Martinez, had been seeking a long-term contract. However, those players settled for short-term deals with opt-out clauses, allowing them to test free agency again. Montgomery, at 31 years old, holds a decent career record of 38-34 with a 3.68 ERA. After overcoming struggles during his early days in New York, he has performed consistently well over the past two years, posting a 19-17 record with a 3.34 ERA in 64 starts across three teams. He particularly shined in the Rangers’ championship playoff run last season, where he went 3-1 with a 2.90 ERA.
It all comes down to finances in the negotiation process for Jordan Montgomery’s contract
Spotrac estimates Montgomery’s value at 110 million. However, as Spring Training progresses, such a lucrative contract has not materialized.
Sherman highlights that Montgomery initially set his salary expectations based on Aaron Nola’s seven-year, 136.5 million).
The Yankees view Montgomery as their third starter, acknowledging his contributions to the team, particularly in the postseason. Despite this, the team appears more inclined towards a contract comparable to Eduardo Rodriguez’s four-year, $80 million deal. Montgomery has proven his ability to perform in New York and maintain composure in high-pressure playoff situations.
While the negotiation door remains open, neither the Yankees nor Montgomery have committed to a deal as of yet.
