Texas Rangers Free Agent Jordan Montgomery 'Perfect' For NL East Club

Jordan Montgomery could be headed back to the Big Apple in 2024, but not to the New York Yankees.

The New York Mets need starting pitching and Texas Rangers free agent Jordan Montgomery might be the top player on their radar in the coming days. 

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, Montgomery could be the "perfect transaction" this offseason to add to National League East club. The Mets must upgrade their pitching staff, as two returnees are penciled into the starting rotation. 

"A bare-bones rotation – Kodai Senga and Jose Quintana are the only ones guaranteed spots at this point – and shaky bullpen calls for someone who eats innings," Passan wrote. "And when an available pitcher not only does that with aplomb but also has proven he’s equipped with the mettle to pitch in New York and the stuff to dominate in the postseason, that’s the sort of free agent well worth nine figures.

"The perfect transaction: Sign free-agent left-hander Jordan Montgomery."

Texas Rangers free agent Jordan Montgomery could be a target of the New York Mets / © Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

After joining the Rangers at the trade deadline, Montgomery set the tone as one of the faces during Texas' run to its first World Series title. He posted a 3-1 record with a 2.90 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and struck out 17 batters. For the season, Montgomery finished with a 3.20 ERA across 32 starts and 188 2/3 innings pitched.

Texas hopes to agree to terms with Montgomery after a successful October, but he'll have suitors across baseball. The Rangers are seen as the favorite in some circles to land the left-hander.

The St. Louis Cardinals, who traded him to Texas in July, are rumored to be in the running for a reunion on a new deal. So are the New York Yankees. Other clubs looking to bolster their rotation could be in the running, too. 

TV Uncertainty May Impact Spending

Should general manager Chris Young agree to terms with the 31-year-old southpaw, Montgomery would slot in behind names like right-hander Nathan Eovaldi and Max Scherzer as the No. 3 pitcher on a staff looking to win another title. 

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