Long-time respected Phillies insider Jim Salisbury joined the 94WIP Midday Show on Monday to explain why the Phillies are not pursuing free-agent left-handed starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery.
"They have a reluctance to jump over that third tier of the luxury tax, which the signing of Montgomery would do," Salisbury explained to Hugh Douglas and Joe Giglio.
"And I don't even know if it's so much the tax and the money, as it is the impact it could have on draft position, international signings, etcetera, etcetera, because they need to get young players—continue to procure young players to sustain this thing. If he's still out there come midseason, we'll see. It seems like he could be one of those hired gun types."
The Phillies' 2024 payroll is currently $244.8 million, per spotrac.com, already over the 2024 MLB tax threshold of $237 million. As teams go over the tax threshold by $20 million, $40 million, and then $60 million the tax surcharge increases and teams can have their Rule 4 draft selections moved back.
Montgomery, 31, is still unsigned and the Phillies have been mentioned as a possible suitor. He reportedly has long-term offers from multiple teams.
Now, with backend of the rotation starter Taijuan Walker set to start to the season on the IL with a shoulder injury, the speculation of the Phillies’ pursuit for Montgomery has heightened.
Many, including Giglio, want the Phillies to pursue Montgomery, as they are currently in an important win-now championship window.
Montgomery, 31, went 4-2 with a 2.79 ERA in 11 starts with the Rangers last season after being traded from St. Louis to Texas the MLB trade deadline.
Baseball Reference projects the left-hander to go 9-9 with a 3.66 ERA in 172.0 innings in 2024.