Jordan Montgomery’s Top FA Landing Spots After Blake Snell’s Contract with Giants

Reigning National League Cy Young winner Blake Snell finally agreed to a reported two-year, $62 million contract with the San Francisco Giants on Monday, leaving Jordan Montgomery as the most significant remaining free-agent pitcher still available.

Montgomery won the 2023 World Series with the Texas Rangers and is coming off a solid season. He posted a 3.30 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 166 strikeouts in 188.2 innings across 32 starts between the Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals.

The 31-year-old veteran would be a decent consolation prize for any team hoping to contend in 2024, so here’s a look at his top landing spots with Opening Day right around the corner.

The New York Yankees could use some rotation help in the wake of Gerrit Cole’s elbow injury.

Cole is expected to be sidelined for one to two months due to the elbow ailment and is not expected to need surgery after meeting with esteemed orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles.

The reigning American League Cy Young winner told reporters earlier this week that he is dealing with nerve inflammation and edema.

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.

The Yankees are also already familiar with Montgomery, who was drafted by the franchise in 2014 and spent the first five-and-a-half seasons of his career in New York before being traded to the Cardinals.

During his tenure with the Yankees from 2017 to 2022, he posted a 22-20 record, 3.94 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP in 98 games (97 starts).

The Boston Red Sox are not projected to have a postseason-worthy 2024 campaign amid a lackluster offseason, but they desperately need pitching help if they hope to avoid another last-place AL East finish.

After trading Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves this past winter, Boston signed Lucas Giolito to a two-year deal. However, he underwent surgery to repair a torn UCL and is expected to miss the entire 2024 season.

The Red Sox now boast a rotation headlined by Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta, Kutter Crawford and Garrett Whitlock. Tanner Houck and Josh Winckowski could also see some starts this year.

Montgomery has been linked to Boston throughout the offseason.

However, WEEI’s Rob Bradford reported last month that while the Red Sox are “prioritizing” Montgomery over other free-agent pitchers, the franchise is “still waiting for price to come down.”

With Snell off the market and teams getting desperate as the season nears, his price may only rise.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported earlier this month that Montgomery and the Red Sox were still in contact about a deal, but he added Boston appears “disinclined to the seven-year deal Montgomery seeks.”

While Montgomery landing in Boston seems unlikely given interest from other contenders, the Red Sox can’t be ruled out as a destination amid the continued buzz linking him to the franchise.

The Houston Astros were among the teams reportedly after Blake Snell this offseason, but now that he’s off the table, Montgomery could be an option.

Houston is aiming to reach the World Series for the second time in three seasons, but if that’s going to happen, the franchise needs to upgrade its rotation behind Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez.

Cristian Javier, José Urquidy and Lance McCullers Jr. are expected to round out the rotation.

However, Urquidy, Verlander, McCullers and Luis Garcia will begin the 2024 season on the injured list, which isn’t a good sign. The Astros are in clear need of a pitcher given the injuries, and Montgomery is the best available.

If Houston doesn’t add a pitcher prior to Opening Day, the first month of the season could be rough as the Astros are expected to face the Rangers, Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays to open the year.

Montgomery played a key role in Texas’ 2023 World Series run, and the Rangers would boast one of the best rotations in baseball if they were to bring him back.

Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray, Andrew Heaney, Dane Dunning and Cody Bradford will open the 2024 season as the team’s starting rotation, but it will later get reinforcements in the form of ace Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Tyler Mahle returning from injuries.

Montgomery was impressive in his lone stint with the Rangers last season, posting a 4-2 record, 2.79 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 58 strikeouts in 67.2 innings across 11 starts. He was just as good during the 2023 postseason, recording a 4-2 record with a 2.90 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 31 innings across six games (five starts).

The issue with Montgomery returning to Texas is that the Rangers already have a pretty decent rotation that will get even better with the return of star players from injury. They aren’t desperate for a pitcher.

That said, a reunion can’t be ruled out, especially if he continues to go unsigned.