MLB Rumors: Red Sox prefer Jordan Montgomery over Blake Snell, Aaron Nola
This offseason, the Boston Red Sox have one need above all others: a frontline pitcher.
Among the select handful of star aces on the market, the team reportedly is prioritizing one player over the rest.
Red Sox beat reporter Ian Browne recently disclosed that based on his sources, Boston like Jordan Montgomery more than, say, Blake Snell or Aaron Nola.
"They just feel like [Montgomery's] the guy that they're really targeting. He might be a little undervalued, although he did obviously boost his value in the playoffs... This isn't going to be one of those offseasons where you can say [the Red Sox] are going to do this, this, and this. You're just going to have to see how it plays out."
Montgomery is coming off one of his most productive seasons in 2023, going 4-2 with a 2.79 ERA on the Rangers. As Browne notes, the Rangers ace upped his stock in the postseason when he easily took care of Astros' Yordan Alvarez in the ALCS and helped Texas win its first World Series in franchise history.
He's due for a massive payday this winter. The only question is, where is he going to get it?
Amid rumors that Montgomery will choose to reunite with the Rangers, the Red Sox remain a viable destination, too.
MLB Rumors: Phillies don't have a clear backup plan if Aaron Nola walks
The most prevalent rumors going around the league is that if Aaron Nola leaves the Philadelphia Phillies, Blake Snell will be brought in as Nola's replacement.
Snell ranks as one of the top free agent pitchers this offseason; he was just crowned the NL Cy Young winner for his dominant 2023 performances that saw him record a 2.25 ERA. Despite a somewhat high walk rate, he averaged at least 11 strikeouts per nine innings.
Snell's been frequently linked to Philly, but... does Philly want him? According to the latest report by The Athletic's Jayson Stark, the Phillies are "just lukewarm" on Snell.
Stark wrote, "Here's one often-rumored name they appear to be just lukewarm on. That's the likely NL Cy Young, Blake Snell, whose walk rate, inconsistency and lack of year-in, year-out volume make him almost the diametric opposite of Nola. However, if Nola hits the exit ramp and Yamamoto goes to a team with a richer history with Japanese players, Snell could still be in play."
Stark lists Snell's concerning walk rate and inconsistency as the main reasons Philly isn't super high on the 30-year-old ace. Snell is projected to command a six-year, $150 million deal per one report, and the Phillies simply may not think he's worth all that money considering his flaws.
Still, Snell is likely on the radar. It sounds like Nola and Yoshinobu Yamamota are the top choices for Philly's front office, and Snells trails just ever so slightly behind.
MLB Rumors: Yankees, Mets could compete for Manuel Margot this winter
Both the New York Yankees and New York Mets could be zeroing in on one star outfielder this offseason: Rays' Manuel Margot.
The New York Post's Joel Sherman reported that both New York teams have inquired on Margot; three other teams are also eyeing the outfielder.
Margot is expected to part ways with the Rays having outpriced his stay in Tampa Bay. He's set to make $10 million next season as the highest-paid position player, and the Rays may not want to fit in that fat sum in their 2024 payroll.
Sherman said, "The Yankees' interest is a renewal of a pursuit they had at the trade deadline when Tampa Bay made the veteran righty hitter available but ultimately did not move him... The expectation this offseason is that Margot will definitely be traded."
From the Rays' perspective, Margot is expendable (they have Jose Siri, Randy Arozarena, and Josh Lowe) and a potential trade could fetch valuable prospects or roster upgrades. Margot, who has struggled to stay healthy in recent seasons, slashed .264/.310/.376 with a .686 OPS in 2023.
The Yankees and Mets both see Margot as a key depth piece in center field, and those two teams as well as a few others could be bidding for his services this winter.