Bringing Back Free Agent Jordan Montgomery Promises to be Costly for World Series Champion Texas Rangers

With more than $100 million committed to starting pitching next season, will the Texas Rangers dig into their pockets to being back free agent Jordan Montgomery?

The Texas Rangers won a World Series title, partied like rock stars and still have a parade around Globe Life Field to enjoy. Yes, it’s good to be the champs. 

And, it’s also the offseason.

One of the biggest decisions for the Rangers is whether to sign left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery to a long-term contract.

It won’t be easy.

On the strength of his final two months of the regular season and the playoffs with the Rangers, Montgomery is now considered a top 10 free agent by The Athletic. In fact, a recent piece indicated that Montgomery could fetch as much as a five-year deal for $127 million.

Jordan Montgomery became a stabilizing factor for the Texas Rangers down the stretch of the regular season and a star in the playoffs / © Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Montgomery hasn’t missed a start since the start of the 2020 season when he returned from Tommy John surgery. The Athletic’s analysis noted that Montgomery has a make-up that might be worth the long-term deal:

Montgomery is definitely at his peak right now, with his best velocity and results, but I like this formula — strikes, deception, changing speeds, without reliance on huge velocity — to age well, so he’s one of the few starting pitchers on this market I’d be willing to go four years for, and I think he’ll probably end up with five-year offers.

Montgomery — acquired by the Rangers at the trade deadline along with reliever Chris Stratton — just wrapped up his best professional season, going 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 came up aces for the Rangers in the postseason with a 3-1 record and 2.90 ERA. He won two of his five playoff starts and claimed the win in relief in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.

The Rangers have $105.5 million committed to starting pitching in 2024. Jacob deGrom, who won’t be ready for the start of the 2024 season, has $40 million of that commitment. Andrew Heaney can exercise a $13 million player option. Max Scherzer and Nathan Eovaldi are still under contract.

If the Athletic estimate is accurate, the Rangers would add $25.4 million per year to that payroll to retain Montgomery.

Winning World Series 'Means So Much'

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