St. Louis Cardinals Rumors: Could Jordan Montgomery return this offseason?
When the Cardinals traded Harrison Bader to the Yankees for Jordan Montgomery at the 2022 MLB trade deadline, they did not view him as a one-and-done product in their starting rotation. Yet, a poor 2023 season forced John Mozeliak's hand, and the Cardinals executive traded Montgomery to Texas, where he would have the opportunity to pitch for a contender.
Montgomery has pitched well so far in Texas, as he has a sub-2 ERA in four starts. The Rangers have lost six games in a row, but remain in the mix for the AL West crown with the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners.
Montgomery's future in Texas beyond this year in no sure thing. His contract is up at the end of the season, and FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray believes a return to St. Louis could be in the cards.
"Jordan Montgomery will be expensive, especially as he continues to pitch like a frontline starter for the Texas Rangers. But the Cardinals know Montgomery, have actively pursued left-handed pitching in recent seasons, and ultimately acquired the left-hander from the New York Yankees for outfielder Harrison Bader at the 2022 trade deadline...Clearly the Cardinals like Montgomery. He was their best pitcher when he was in St. Louis...It would not be a surprise to see the Cardinals pursue Montgomery again this winter, and a reunion makes total sense for both sides," Murray wrote.
Mozeliak and Co. need pitching, and while they have a wish list that includes some of the top available talent on the market such as Aaron Nola, Blake Snell and more, this isn't a team prone to paying long-term for rotation help. Montgomery, likely a little cheaper, is a better option.
St. Louis Cardinals Rumors: Dream pitcher may be off the market
While on the Cardinals wish list of upcoming free-agent targets, the likelihood that St. Louis can sign Julio Urias of the Los Angeles Dodgers is not high. Urias will be prioritized even more by the Dodgers front office now that their top free-agent target, Shohei Ohtani, could be forced off the mound long term. Urias, meanwhile, is an ace in every sense of the word. With Ohtani's injury, his price tag just went up.
So, will the Cards be able to afford a player like Urias? If history is any indication, Urias might be a little out of St. Louis's price range. Prior to the Ohtani injury, FanSided MLB Insider Robert Murray graded the likelihood of these two linking up as a 3/10:
"Signing Urias will be expensive and considering that his agent is Scott Boras, he'll wait out the market until he receives top dollar. It's difficult to see the Cardinals winning a bidding war for Urias, especially with the Dodgers posing a serious threat to retain his services. Will the Cardinals express interest? Of course. He also fits the left-handed arm that they have coveted in recent seasons (their previous additions Jordan Montgomery, Jon Lester, J.A. Happ and Jose Quintana were all left-handed). But a Urias to St. Louis deal feels unlikely."
The prospect of adding a frontline starter like Urias is enticing, but St. Louis would be better-advised investing in their own farm system, such as Tink Hence, and adding depth from within, as they're far more affordable.
St. Louis Cardinals Rumors: Is Shohei Ohtani suddenly affordable?
After suffering a torn UCL on Wednesday afternoon, Shohei Ohtani's free-agency value went down significantly. Once deemed a likely $600 million pitcher, there's no guarantee he'll even crack $500 million in guaranteed money.
As ESPN's Buster Olney suggested on social media, "the context for Shohei Ohtani's baseball future has changed completely. There's just no way to know how much he'll pitch in the years ahead -- and it may be that the pitching side of his forthcoming contract will need to include incentives based on starts/appearances."
Were this to prove true, it opens up Ohtani's market to more teams that could be able to afford him. Ohtani as a hitter alone would still cost teams upwards of $350 million long term, if not more. Ohtani as a two-way player costs $600 million, which is a non starter for a club like the St. Louis Cardinals.
If Mozeliak and convince Ohtani down to the $350 million-$400 million mark, plus incentives if he is able to return to the mound as a pitcher, he becomes far more affordable, especially given the marketing surplus that Ohtani brings with him. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic argues that Ohtani is still a $500 million player, and assuming he isn't carrying water for Ohtani's agent, that's a worthwhile piece to read.
"Wednesday's distressing news will bring a certain sobriety to Ohtani's free-agent process that might have been lacking otherwise. Teams cannot pay him as a two-way superstar when his future dominance as a pitcher is much more in question. But they still can pay him for who he is virtually certain to remain, one of the sport's top offensive players. That's worth $500 million. At least that," Rosenthal writes.
Rosenthal made the argument that Juan Soto's $440 million deal should be the benchmark, with Ohtani receiving opt-outs and potential incentives in his deal should he pitch again. Sound familiar?
Ohtani's future as a pitcher was always a little murky. Just how long was he going to keep up this pace? Perhaps -- if there's a bright side of all this -- it's that teams have some form of clarity.