Top landing spots for free-agent left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomer
As the 2023-24 MLB offseason marches on, Jordan Montgomery finds himself as one of the top available starting pitchers on the market.
Montgomery, 30, is the definition of a “late bloomer.” The fourth-round pick in the 2014 draft did not make his big league debut until 2017 and wasn’t able to consistently make 30 starts a year until 2021 at the age of 28.
Now, however, he sits alongside Blake Snell as one of the top left-handers to watch during the offseason.
After a strong showing in each of the 2021 and ’22 campaigns, expectations were high for Montgomery entering this past year. Traded at the deadline from the Cardinals to the eventual champion Rangers, “Monty” was solid as a rock for a team marching towards its first-ever World Series victory.
In 11 starts for the Rangers, Montgomery went 4-2 with a 2.79 ERA and 160 ERA+. Then, he put up a seven-inning shutout performance over the Rays in the Wild Card Series, and he was an integral part of the Rangers’ deep postseason run. Overall, he tossed 31 innings in this year’s postseason with a sparkling 2.90 ERA.
At the end of the day, Montgomery finished the 2023 campaign in the 82nd percentile in walk percentage. In addition, he finished in the 93rd percentile in Pitching Run Value, per Baseball Savant.
Nearly all 30 teams around the league have a need for starting pitching. Let’s take a closer look and identify the top five fits for Montgomery in free agency.
Arizona Diamondbacks
As things currently stand, Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly will be the only arms with much experience in Arizona’s rotation. Beyond them, Brandon Pfaadt, Ryne Nelson and Tommy Henry figure to round out the group, but there’s an obvious need for some additional innings.
Montgomery would provide the 2023 NL Champs with a steady veteran presence, which is exactly what they need if they hope to go back-to-back.
This past season, the Diamondbacks had the tenth-highest ERA amongst starting pitchers at 4.67; their 4.36 FIP ranked 15th. Again, there’s a need for at least one more arm, and Montgomery would fit that bill nicely.
