Main League Baseball absolutely opens the 2024 season this week and rosters are presently being finalized. In some way, Jordan Montgomery remains to be ready to search out his subsequent crew.
The 31-year-old starter was excellent in 2023, and stepped up his sport down the stretch to assist the Texas Rangers win their first World Collection title. He was trying to money on this offseason however, like Blake Snell earlier than him, groups have not ponied up the type of affords he has been in search of. In addition to being veteran lefties coming off glorious seasons, Snell and Montgomery have one thing in frequent — they’re each represented by Scott Boras.
Montgomery cut up time between the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers in 2023, making 32 common season begins. He completed 10-11 with a 3.20 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 166 strikeouts in opposition to 48 walks allowed in 188.2 innings. After he was traded to Texas on July 30, he actually turned it on. Montgomery made 11 begins for the Rangers, posting a 4-2 file with a 2.79 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP and 58 strikeouts in opposition to 13 walks in 67.2 innings. He additionally shined in six postseason appearances (5 begins) as effectively, delivering a 2.90 ERA.
So what provides? Groups want pitching depth greater than ever, and Montgomery is a lefty who seems to be at this prime of his sport. He is additionally sturdy, having made 30 or extra begins in three consecutive seasons. He is precisely what contenders needs to be in search of. It will seem groups have no curiosity in matching Boras’ contract calls for.
Snell was compelled to take a short-term, high-dollar deal from the San Francisco Giants after not getting the long-term pact he was searching for. His two-year, $62 million contract will permit him to decide out after 12 months 1. Montgomery is likely to be staring down an identical scenario except he takes far much less cash per yr than he was searching for. Reports suggest a number of groups stay , however a deal nonetheless hasn’t been reached.
Montgomery earned a giant contract with the best way he pitched the previous three seasons. Just a few days from the beginning of the 2024 MLB season he one way or the other hasn’t discovered it.
Ryan Phillips is a senior author at The Huge Lead.
