MLB news roundup
Happy Monday, Athletics Nation!
The A’s have improved their starting rotation depth this offseason with the additions of Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs to the top of a rotation currently projected to include Severino, Springs, JP Sears, Joey Estes, and Mitch Spence.
But the A’s purportedly have a bit more payroll budget to spend, and Nick Deeds at MLB Trade Rumors isn’t the first to consider Diamondbacks lefty Jordan Montgomery as a potential match for the A’s, but Deeds does indeed deem the 32-year-old a good fit.
Montgomery was solid from 2021 through 2023 as he moved from the Yankees to the Cardinals and finally the Rangers, who got a boost from Jordan in their postseason run all the way to a World Series championship.
But 2024 was a different story, with Montgomery logging just 21 starts and an atrocious 6.23 ERA. There may be some bad blood between the pitcher and the D-Backs organization, and with last week’s acquisition of Corbin Burnes, Deeds thinks Montgomery is the most likely Arizona starter to be traded.
It does seem that reeling Monty in would be pretty in character for the A’s at this point. There’s plenty of risk, significant upside, and a likely discount to be had as the D-Backs may have to eat some of Montgomery’s $22.5 million salary for next year.
What say ye, AN? Is this a move the A’s should make? I might prefer a bit surer bet—which is hard to come by in a pitcher. But if the A’s did get Montgomery for less than $20 million next year and got 30-plus starts of sub-4.00 FIP out of it, I wouldn’t be mad.
So yeah—as usual, I’m for it if it’s destined to work out.
Have a terrific week, AN.
Good on Rook, making the best of it.
Headed out to Sacramento for a few days! Can’t wait to explore the city and meet some people in the community. Looking forward to calling it home for the next few years! Let me know if there’s anything we need to be sure to do while we’re here! @Athletics
— Brent Rooker (@Brent_Rooker12) January 5, 2025
