Jordan Montgomery may be considering returning to the Texas Rangers instead of reuniting with his former team, the New York Yankees, according to Randy Miller of NJ.com.
According to Miller, the free agent would prefer to stay with the Rangers after they win the World Series in 2023, even if Montgomery is the Yankees’ first choice.
Miller wrote:
“People familiar with the Yankees’ thinking say Montgomery is the Yankees’ best choice to bolster the rotation, but there are doubts that such a deal will happen as well as it should.” Montgomery to return to the Rangers after winning their first world championship in 2023.”
A person familiar with the matter told Miller that Montgomery’s first choice is the Rangers after spending 2023 in Texas.
“I heard Montgomery’s first choice was the Rangers,”
the person said.
Montgomery will sign a one-year, $10 million deal but has yet to sign a new contract as his team seeks a bigger deal. Per Miller, Montgomery’s agent, Scott Boras, wants more than the six-year, $162 million deal Carlos Rodon signed last year.
A few weeks ago, the Yankees gave up the opportunity to release Yamato Schwab, who joined the Los Angeles Dodgers for $300 million from New York.
Miller said New York may face other issues when it comes to free agent fees. With the threat of not signing big-name free agents before spring training, the Yankees could enter the season without a starter.
New York hopes to return to glory and reach the World Series for the first time since winning in 2009, but the Yankees will need to add some weapons to the rotation to do that.
The New York Yankees ultimately failed to sign three-time Nippon Baseball MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto after he waived his contract.
Jordan Montgomery, who threw a few rocks on the way to the Texas Rangers’ World Series victory, is going to New York.
Montgomery spent the first five and a half years of his MLB career with the Yankees, and Hal Steinbrenner could beat the Texans in his sleep.
While the Yankees were in talks with Montgomery, New York saw free agent Blake Snell “as a better fit,” Martino said.
Blake Snell has privately expressed an interest in playing for the Yankees, per @martinonyc
"At the moment, Snell seems a more likely fit in New York than Jordan Montgomery, with whom they have also talked.
The team is looking to add to the rotation – aggressively, though not… pic.twitter.com/emML8MGtOk
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) January 4, 2024
Snell, 31, who won the NL Cy Young Award with the San Diego Padres in 2023, has expressed his desire to join the Yankees.
Snell led MLB in walks (99) last season, and despite winning the Cy Young Award, Snell has not made the All-Star team in five seasons.
An impressive left fielder with high-90s strikeouts and fast kills, Snell sits comfortably behind Gerrit Cole in the Yankees’ rotation.
New York became the first team in 34 years to win two Cy Young Awards. On the surface, Snell is better than Montgomery.
He started 32 games last season and went 14-9 with a 2.25 ERA and 1.189 WHIP.
Snell’s ERA rose to 4.20 that season. Montgomery had an explosive performance in the World Series for Texas.
That’s important for a team with postseason aspirations like New York.
While Montgomery is seen as a viable second baseman in New York, Snell may be the right choice based on the financial implications.
Snell and Montgomery are represented by Scott Boras, who also represents the recently sold Soto. Of course, the Yankees don’t hold back when they really need a player.
New York will seriously threaten opposing offenses with the Cole-Snell combo at the top of the rotation.
If Carlos Rodon can return to form before 2023, New York would be truly cooking with gas.
The New York Yankees want to get Jordan Montgomery back for 2024, but it won’t be easy.
According to recent reports, the left-hander would prefer to return to the Texas Rangers rotation over the Bronx Bombers.
Montgomery finished the 2023 season with a 10-11 record, a 3.20 ERA, a strikeout in 188.2 innings and 48 hits allowed. He was outstanding in the World Series.
“The Yankees took me and gave me six great years in the majors.”
The Texas Rangers still have questions about their starting rotation but could find a significant answer on the market.
The Rangers are Jordan Montgomery's 'first choice' over a return to the Yankees in free agency, per @RandyJMiller pic.twitter.com/rubvvX0CeL
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) January 4, 2024
The left winger is still on the market. The market is down However, MLB.com recently made its “Best” free agent prediction and said Jordan Montgomery would be a better fit for the New York Yankees than the Rangers.
“When the Yankees traded Montgomery to the Cardinals for Harrison Bader at the 2022 trade deadline, one of their reasons was that they didn’t think the left-hander would be as good as he was in the regular season, which would help beat Dirk Saskatchewan wins the World Championship Series. The Bronx Bombers may have won the sweepstakes with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but they’ll have a chance to correct past mistakes and have a stable starting pitcher to bring home…Montgomery.”
– MLB.com
Midseason Shopping for St. Louis was instrumental in Texas’ postseason run to its first World Series title, posting a 2.79 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 11 starts.
Montgomery, 31, is a hot prospect, according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, who reported last week that six teams were interested.
The San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels are the favorites, but the Yankees, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox are still in contention.
The Rangers are also an option, but that could be due to the uncertainty of a TV and movie deal.
Montgomery is considering a six-year, $140 million deal, according to multiple reports. Montgomery isn’t the only player to play for Texas.
The Rangers are reportedly in the process of acquiring former San Deigo Padres closer Josh Hader. Hader would be a welcome addition, as the Rangers struggled in the bullpen during the regular season. Montgomery and Hader were the two major free agents most closely linked to Texas.
Fans had this to say:
Idk about this one man, he walks so many batters and doesn’t go deep into games
— John 🎄 (@YaBoyyyJohn) January 4, 2024
Less talking, more doing. Too much " express interest " with this Yankees front office. Need to go back to their " Just get it done " mentality.
— 𝓛𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓛𝓮𝓰𝓪𝓬𝔂 (@LatinLegacy) January 4, 2024
WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR, GET THE MAN!
— 𝕏 PAC 𝕏 (@pacmvn) January 4, 2024
Still think they need add another bat. Not sure if adding Soto is enough
— Luis Planas (@lplanas1969) January 4, 2024
I don’t understand what is meant by Snell being a better fit for Yanks. Based on what? Maybe based on this he is more likely to sign with Yanks than Monty – but want specific details about the “fit”
— Matthew Greenberg (@matthewhgreen22) January 5, 2024
Problem with Snell is that he sandwiches Cy Young Caliber seasons between a lot of mediocre or injury prone seasons. And it’s not like both Cy Young’s have been recent indicating he’s peaking. 1st Cy Young 6 years ago. Then mid until this past season.
— Moocow (@moocow007) January 4, 2024
I like this and even more so if the Yankees can get Luzardo. That yamamoto fiasco might be a blessing in disguise. 2 quality leftys in Yankee Stadium is a recipe for success.
— Juan Ventura (@vfactmanager) January 4, 2024
Fans want Monty to be a Ranger.
Monty wants Monty to be a Ranger.
Our front office? I can’t tell what they want but I’m afraid of the answer.
— The World Champions Peagle (@SapphirePeagle) January 4, 2024
Well, the Yankees did disrespect him about the postseason and then traded him to St. Louis.
— Matt Bednarowicz (@FriendlyConfinz) January 4, 2024
Good. We need him and he’s a perfect fit. Hoping just a delay as they work out the TV money
— headband greeni🏆(Rangers WS Champs) (@greeni813) January 4, 2024
He should continue to live in Boston and sign with the Red Sox
— Boston Nation (@BostonNation4) January 5, 2024
I don’t blame him. He just won the World Series with them AND have you heard him speak?
— Josh Valentin 🗽 (@KingStretchh) January 4, 2024
