Cardinals Remain Among Favorites To Land Frontline Starter Despite Sonny Gray Deal

Gray might not be the only splash this winter

The St. Louis Cardinals' main focus this winter has been to retool the pitching staff after a tumultuous 2023 season.

After adding former Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn, right-handed pitcher Kyle Gibson, and reigning American League Cy Young runner-up Sonny Gray -- the Cardinals have succeeded in replenishing their depleted rotation from last season.

Despite the latest acquisitions, there is still a good chance that St. Louis could reunite with a highly coveted starting pitcher.

The Cardinals are listed among the favorites to sign left-hander Jordan Montgomery according to the oddsmakers at BetOnline. St. Louis enters with +300 odds (25%) to reunite with the reigning World Series champion, who is set for a sizeable payday.

Montgomery posted a 3.20 ERA with a 166-to-48 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .247 batting average against and 1.19 WHIP in 188 2/3 innings between his time with St. Louis and the Texas Rangers in 2023.

The 30-year-old went 4-2 with a 2.90 ERA in 31 innings last postseason amid his impressive run to help the Rangers win their first World Series.

It's been reported that Montgomery would prefer to sign with one of his former teams -- leaving St. Louis in competition with the New York Yankees and Rangers to sign the veteran hurler.

The southpaw was projected to receive a contract in the range of five years, $105 million this offseason according to The Athletic's Tim Britton but recent reports have speculated that he could receive something closer to Carlos Rodon's six-year, $162 million deal with the Yankees.

Adding Montgomery back to the rotation would certainly bolster the Cardinals' odds of bouncing back in 2024.

Will the Cardinals spend the money to reunite with Montgomery?

More MLB: Cardinals Could Explore Reunion With Homegrown Three-Time All-Star