Opening Day is just days away for both the Yankees and Mets, but neither New York team has reportedly set its starting rotation in stone just yet.
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, both teams have “not shut the door on Jordan Montgomery,” leaving the possibility that one team signs the free agent lefty who has yet to find a suitor despite spring training now being completed.
Montgomery, coming off a season in which he shined for the Rangers and helped them to a World Series title, originally asked for a contract in the range of Aaron Nola’s $172 million contract extension with the Phillies, per Sherman, then moved to the $136.5 million that Tyler Glasnow signed with the Dodgers after being traded from the Rays. The Yanks have reportedly told Montgomery’s agent, Scott Boras, what pay range they would be comfortable with, considering they are up against the highest luxury tax penalty tier, but that the two sides don’t seem close.
As for the Mets, they have reportedly also given a price that they would be comfortable with, but Montgomery hasn’t dropped his ask to that level just yet.
Regardless of where Montgomery signs, missing spring training entirely would likely mean that his debut wouldn’t come for nearly a month after he signs.