Yankees Expected To Miss Out On Star Despite Showing Heavy Interest

It sounds like the Yankees may not end up landing one of their top targets after all

The New York Yankees still have work to do despite landing two-time All-Star Marcus Stroman.

New York had made a solid upgrade to the rotation, but still likely need one more arm if the club truly wants to be considered World Series contenders. Stroman currently pencils in as the club's No. 2 or No. 3 starter.

If the Yankees could land another player who could be penciled into the No. 2 spot, New York could end up being considered among the favorites to win the 2024 World Series.

One player who has been mentioned as a fit on numerous occasions is big lefty Jordan Montgomery. He was drafted by the Yankees and began his big league career in New York but was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022. 

There have been rumblings that a reunion could be on the way, but that may be unlikely as Montgomery may prefer to return to the Texas Rangers, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

"Montgomery seemingly wants to play for the Rangers, a team with whom he won a World Series, rather than the Yankees, a team that did not believe he was good enough for its postseason rotation, prompting his trade to the Cardinals at the 2022 deadline," Rosenthal said. "Understandable. But perhaps a preemptive bid would erase whatever lingering resentment Montgomery might be harboring, and buy the Yankees more certainty.

Montgomery has developed into a star over the last few years and would be the perfect addition to the Yankees' rotation. While this is the case, New York did trade him away so Montgomery may not want to come back.