New York Yankees Expected to Pursue Former Starter in Free Agency

The New York Yankees are reportedly one of two teams that could seek a reunion with pitcher Jordan Montgomery in free agency.

The New York Yankees will head into free agency this offseason looking for help in its starting rotation, and they could be seeking a reunion with a former starter that has seen his stock rise this postseason.

Per USA Today, the Yankees are one of two teams that are interested in pursuing Texas Rangers left-hander Jordan Montgomery once the season concludes.

Montgomery started Game 1 of the American League Division Series for the Rangers on Sunday night against the Houston Astros. It is his third postseason start for his third MLB team, and he’s been solid in both starts.

But Montgomery broke in with the Yankees in 2017 and remained with the team until they traded him to the Cardinals in 2021, as St. Louis was making a run to the playoffs.

With the Yankees, Montgomery went 22-20 with a 3.94 ERA and started one postseason game for New York in 2020.

As it turns out, the Cardinals are the other team that is interested in pursuing Montgomery. The Cardinals traded him and reliever Chris Stratton at the trade deadline in August for two prospects — infielder Thomas Saggese and pitcher Tekoah Roby — along with reliever John King.

In what amounted to one full season for the Cardinals, he went 12-12 with a 3.31 ERA. He also pitched in their NL Wild Card series last season.

But he’s flourished with the Rangers. He’s been the Rangers’ most effective starter since he joined them after the trade deadline from the St. Louis Cardinals and helped carry them to the playoffs without Max Scherzer, who missed the final three weeks with an injury.

Montgomery was 10-11 with a 3.70 ERA in the regular season and went at least six innings in each of his final four regular-season games, including seven innings on three occasions.

Entering the ALCS, Montgomery was 1-0 in the postseason with a 3.27 ERA.

Montgomery was masterful in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series against Tampa Bay. In that game, he pitched seven innings of shutout baseball. He allowed six hits, struck out five and walked none. That set the Rangers up to sweep the Rays in two games.