Even before team leader Gerrit Cole suffered an unexpected elbow injury that is expected to keep him off the field for at least the opening couple weeks of the season, the New York Yankees had concerns about the depth of their rotation.

The Yankees are expected to sign Jordan Montgomery, the best pitcher available, in order to address those concerns after losing out on signing Cy Young winner Blake Snell, who signed with the San Francisco Giants.

“I believe Montgomery will eventually return to New York, the city that gave him his start in life,” Ben Verlander predicted for Fox Sports. “The Yankees need someone to cover for Gerrit Cole, who could be out for three months, and Montgomery is a great fit,” the statement reads.

The New York Yankees and Jordan Montgomery Have a History

Pitching for the Yankees for five complete seasons, Montgomery began his big-league career in the Bronx until being moved to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022. Although he was competent in New York, his career has taken off since he left, as seen by the World Series victory he earned with the Texas Rangers the previous season. Montgomery had a career-best 3.20 ERA in 2023 with 32 starts and 166 strikeouts.

On paper, a reunion may make sense because Montgomery has the finest arm available and the Yankees could be in dire need of an addition, but there may be disagreements over the reunion’s cost.

New York Yankees’ Pitching Target Jordan Montgomery Is Seeking a Contract in the Range of $172 Million

“As Aaron Nola received $172 million over seven years, Montgomery’s camp compares him to him,” Jon Heyman of the New York Post wrote, adding that “sources say they are back in contact” despite a “gap” in the negotiations.

Even while the Yankees, who are currently suffering a large luxury tax hit, would prefer to avoid signing new contracts with high annual average values (AAVs) than paying shorter salaries in the long run, it would be a steep expense.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Snell turned down a six-year, $150 million contract from the Yankees in favor of a high-AAV deal with an opt-out in San Francisco. They might be open to making Montgomery a similar offer now.

Then there’s the matter of whether Montgomery would accept a trade-back to the team that sent him packing for so little. Though Montgomery may have resentment towards that, the Yankees managed to add Marcus Stroman, a seasoned pitcher, this offseason in spite of their own public problems.

Anthony Franco wrote for MLB Trade Rumors that “there’s a clear on-paper fit for a return to the Bronx.” “Stan publicly criticized the Yankees prior to signing his deal, but Montgomery had some parting shots for the front office after being traded to St. Louis at the ’22 deadline.”

Montgomery would probably take the lead in the rotation until Cole returns if the Yankees and Montgomery are able to come to an agreement. He most likely wouldn’t be ready for the start of the season either, but he can definitely chew up innings for any team he ends up joining in the near future. Opening Day is quickly approaching.

Anthony Franco wrote for MLB Trade Rumors that “there’s a clear on-paper fit for a return to the Bronx.” “Stan publicly criticized the Yankees prior to signing his deal, but Montgomery had some parting shots for the front office after being traded to St. Louis at the ’22 deadline.”