Nearing Opening Day, the Boston Red Sox have not yet experienced the “full throttle” offseason that was promised.
A lack of depth in the starting rotation is another one of the roster gaps that the team has neglected to fill following a
last-place finish in their division the previous season, especially in light of Lucas Giolito’s injury that may terminate
his season completely. Erin Walsh of Bleacher Report has identified the Red Sox as a possible destination for World
Series champion Jordan Montgomery, a free agent target who might soon change that.
With a dismal offseason, Walsh stated, “The Boston Red Sox are not projected to have a postseason-worthy 2024
campaign, but they desperately need pitching help if they hope to avoid another last-place AL East finish.”
She stated that “the Red Sox can’t be ruled out as a destination amid the continued buzz linking him to the
franchise.” Montgomery has been connected to Boston during the winter.
Giolito’s departure means that Brayan Bello, Nick Pivietta, Tanner Houck, and Kutter Crawford will be in the Red
Sox rotation going forward. Montgomery would emerge as the team’s instant star after none of those alternatives
kept their ERA below 4.00 in the previous campaign.
Over 141 starts, he has a 3.68 ERA in his career. He pitched for a 3.20 ERA in 32 starts last season while winning a
World Series with the Texas Rangers. After being dealt to the Rangers in midseason, he maintained an ERA of 2.79
in 11 regular-season starts.
Baseball Reference projects Montgomery to have a 3.66 ERA in 172 innings pitched with 157 strikeouts.
Walsh added that the pitcher’s asking price has been a cause of contention between Montgomery and the Red Sox.
According to executives and agents who talked with Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Montgomery wants to
surpass Aaron Nola’s $172 million contract with the Phillies.
The Red Sox are “prioritizing” Jordan Montgomery over other free agency alternatives, according to Rob Bradford of
WEEI, but they also want to see the price drop. That doesn’t seem likely, though, as Blake Snell has now signed the
San Francisco Giants.
Walsh states, “Snell’s price may only rise with teams growing desperate as the season approaches and him being off
the market.”
However, it should be mentioned that Snell asked for and was granted a much longer contract than the Giants
offered, only receiving $62 million on a two-year agreement. Montgomery, who represents Snell’s agent Scott Boras,
may reach a similar arrangement that permits him to withdraw after a year or two and reevaluate the market soon.
Cole Thompson reported for FanNation’s Inside The Rangers that “opt-outs have become common for clients under
agent Scott Boras.” Despite signing multi-year contracts, outfielder Cody Bellinger (Cubs), third baseman Matt
Chapman (Giants), and now Snell all have opt-outs after 2024. Montgomery, a different Boras client who is still
available, might be searching for a comparable offer in order to maximize his pay.
