Potential Astros Target in Talks with New York Yankees

The Houston Astros could use some pitching and the top remaining target is talking with another team.

If the Houston Astros are interested in getting in on Jordan Montgomery, the time may be drawing near to make a move.

With Blake Snell now signed to San Francisco, Montgomery is the top remaining free-agent pitcher on the market. Naturally, teams that need pitching are going to start getting in contact — even if they have previously passed on the left-hander.

The New York Post reported on Wednesday that the New York Yankees and Montgomery’s agent, Scott Boras, are back in contact.

The asking price is unclear and the Post reported that the sides are still a ways apart. The Yankees have an acute need with their Cy Young starter, Gerrit Cole, out for the next several weeks with an elbow issue the team hopes won’t require surgery.

At this point Snell’s deal may be a good barometer for what Montgomery could get.

Snell just signed a two-year, $62 million deal with the Giants. It features an opt-out after this season and boasts and average annual value of $31 million, though some of it deferred.

That’s a $31 million AAV for a pitcher with two Cy Young awards, including one last year.

While Montgomery has certainly improved, he’s not a Cy Young winner. And the Astros have a need too, as four starting pitchers are expected to miss the start of the season, including Justin Verlander.

The Yankees know Montgomery well, as he broke in with the team and was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022 as St. Louis was fortifying itself for a playoff run.

The Cardinals flipped him to the Texas Rangers at last year’s trade deadline and he’s coming off a 2023 in which he went 10-11 with a 3.20 ERA with a 166 strikeouts and 48 walks. With the Rangers he went 4-2 with a 2.79 ERA.

He shined in the postseason, as he went 3-1 with a 2.90 ERA. He won two of his five starts in the postseason and claimed the win in relief in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.