Could Philadelphia Phillies Pivot and Add Top Free Agent Starter?

The Philadelphia Phillies will have a man down in the rotation to begin the season. Could they pivot to the top remaining free agent?

Feb 25, 2024; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave / Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Phillies will begin the season with a man down in the rotation. It was announced on March 24 that Taijuan Walker will begin the season on the injured list with a shoulder impingement.

The starter added that the only cure was rest but hoped to be back on the mound quickly.

Despite the news, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski declared that they were fine heading into the season with their current rotation and that they were not seeking to add any free agents to the roster.

However, Dombrowski has made remarks like these before as he usually plays his cards very close to the chest. He is also known for being very aggressive and making a shrewd move if the market is right.

Those factors could lead him to pursue left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery, one of the top free agent arms of the winter and who curiously remains unsigned by an MLB club.

With Montgomery having been on the shelf so long, his price tag may have come down significantly since the beginnig of the winter and Dombrowski may take advantage of that situation. Add in the fact that Montgomery is a Scott Boras client, an agent who has had no luck getting a long-term deal for any of his clients this winter, and a short-term deal to add Montgomery to the roster seems plausible at this point,

Adding Montgomery to the rotation would make Philadelphia's rotation into arguably the best in baseball. The southpaw is well known for his durability as well, something that has at times plagued the Phillies' rotation.

While Dombrowski may publicly say he is happy with the rotation, never count out a potential move for an upgrade in the form of Jordan Montgomery.