Breaking: Yankees Agree Deal To Sign $110 Million Pitcher In Proposed Deal
Throughout the offseason, the New York Yankees have been active in the starting pitching market. Gerrit Cole, the current Cy Young Award winner, will be sidelined for “one to two months,” as reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. As per MLB Insider Jim Bowden, the Yankees are “still involved” in the trade for Jordan Montgomery.
Earlier in the offseason, the Yankees entered the Blake Snell sweepstakes. Additionally, they extended an offer to the Chicago White Sox for Dylan Cease. Finally, on March 18, Snell consented to a $62 million, two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants.On March 13, Cease was traded to the San Diego Padres.
The Yankees are not the only team making a run at Montgomery. His market is finally heating up and is “getting competitive,” wrote Bowden on X.
The Market for Jordan Montgomery
Spotrac projects that Montgomery will sign a six-year, $110 million contract. But he might ink a contract like Blake Snell does this close to opening day.
Montgomery is reportedly receiving long-term offers from two organizations, according to Bowden, who made the announcement on March 24 on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM.
According to Bowden, “it’s probably going to happen this week because it has become really competitive.” “Montgomery is not going to necessarily get this short-term deal, as we thought, that Blake Snell and [Cody] Bellinger got, because they have two long-term offers on the table for him.”
Bowden continued by bringing up Montgomery’s suitor, the Baltimore Orioles. He speculates that a component might be the franchise transaction that is about to close. Montgomery might sign with new owner David Rubenstein and “make a mark,” according to Bowden.
The New York Post’s Jon Heyman claims that although the Yankees appear interested in Montgomery, the 31-year-old might not be keen to rejoin the team.
“Jordan Montgomery, the top free agent still available, is even less certain that he wants to return to The Bronx, so the Yankees will continue to chase starting pitching, but their options are limited,” Heyman said.
Montgomery thinks the Yankees may have given up on him when they traded him to the Cardinals in 2022, according to The Athletc’s Ken Rosenthal.
Jordan Montgomery Would Give the Yankees Rotation a Boost
Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports that Cole is experiencing edema and irritation of the nerves. In his absence, the Yankees will need other players to step up.
In 2023, the 33-year-old took home his first Cy Young Award. Cole has previously placed second in the competition twice. Cole led the American League in innings pitched (209.0), record (15-4) and 2.53 ERA.
Montgomery played for the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals in 2023, making 32 starts. In Cole’s absence, the 2023 World Series winner would provide the rotation a seasoned arm.
In 188.2 innings pitched for the Cardinals and Rangers, Montgomery had an overall 3.20 ERA. But Montgomery was a better pitcher after the July 30 trade to the Rangers by the Cardinals. Against the Rangers, Montgomery had a 4-2 record and a 2.79 ERA. Montgomery had a 3-1 record in the postseason while the Rangers were winning titles.
Nester Cortes will lead the Yankees rotation going forward. With Cole’s injury, Cortes was named the starting pitcher on opening day. Carlos Rodón and Marcus Stroman will pursue him. After overcoming injuries in 2023, Cortes and Rodón will now be crucial players as Cole recovers.
