Prior to the southpaw signing with the Diamondbacks last night on a one-year deal that guarantees him $25MM, the Yankees were among the teams most frequently connected to Jordan Montgomery this winter as the 31-year-old’s former club scouted out potential rotation upgrades in free agency. Reporting connected the sides throughout the offseason and while initial reports indicated that New York was more focused on Blake Snell and Montgomery preferred a return to the Rangers, the sides seemingly reopened negotiations on a hypothetical reunion last week. Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, however, the sides never got particularly close to a deal before the southpaw landed in Arizona.
Heyman writes that the Yankees remained in talks with Montgomery’s agent, Scott Boras, in the days leading up to his deal with the Diamondbacks but that the fourth tier of the luxury tax, which levies a 110% tax rate on spending beyond $297MM, proved to be a major obstacle in negotiations between the sides. While the Yankees suggested a four-year deal to the southpaw’s camp (which Heyman indicates may not have reached the “offer” stage of negotiations), the hypothetical pact would have guaranteed Montgomery just $72MM with heavy deferrals that Heyman indicates would have taken the deal’s net-present value to just $46MM.
That $11.5MM AAV clocks in at less than half of the $25MM Montgomery will earn in 2024, and the total guarantee over four seasons is less than the $47.5MM Montgomery would be able to earn over two seasons provided he makes at least 18 starts in 2024. While Montgomery was rumored to be searching for a long-term deal even as the calendar flipped to March, it would have been a shock if the left-hander hadn’t been able to beat the club’s offer elsewhere on the free agent market. With Montgomery now off the table, the Yankees figure to enter the regular season with a starting rotation of Nestor Cortes, Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Gil while ace right-hander Gerrit Cole nurses inflammation in his elbow.
More from around the AL East…
- The Red Sox were also frequently tied to Montgomery as a potential suitor this winter, and were a frequently speculated destination for a number of starters in all tiers of free agency. Despite that wide-ranging reported interest, however, the club only came away with right-hander Lucas Giolito this winter. In the wake of Giolito undergoing an internal brace procedure on his UCL this spring the club also added righty Chase Anderson on a big league deal, though it appears they aren’t exploring further additions to their rotation mix at this point. WEEI’s Rob Bradford reported yesterday that the club has not made an offer to the lone remaining free agent starter of note, right-hander Mike Clevinger, who pitched to a 3.77 ERA in 24 starts with the White Sox last year. The club’s internal options of Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck, Nick Pivetta, Kutter Crawford, and Garrett Whitlock will need to take a major step forward this season in order to improve upon the 4.68 ERA last year’s rotation mix posted despite losing veteran lefties Chris Sale and James Paxton.
- The Rays have struggled with injuries to their positional corps this spring, and key pieces such as Josh Lowe, Taylor Walls, and Jonathan Aranda are all slated to open the season on the injured list. Those injuries have created an opportunity for one player, however, as Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times noted this evening that infielder Austin Shenton is slated to make the Rays’ Opening Day roster as the final piece of the club’s bench mix. Shenton, 26, has never appeared in the majors before and struggled to a .195/.214/.244 line in 15 games this spring but excelled at the plate in the minors last year, raking to the tune of a .304/.423/.584 slash line in 134 games split between the Double- and Triple-A levels. Shenton has experience at first, second, and third base as well as both outfield corners and figures to act as a left-handed complement to the likes of Harold Ramirez, Amed Rosario, and Curtis Mead in the club’s positional mix to open the season.
I wonder what Clevinger is looking for 12/2? 1/6?
He took a buyout of $4MM instead of choosing to remain with the White Sox for $12MM. I presume a lot more. He’s better than Lorenzen who can max out his deal to $7MM this season.
It’s probably also about the club. While Chicago and Boston as cities have aor to offer, he at least originally probably didn’t want to pitch on a short term deal for another last place team.
I think clev should at least be signed by a rebuilding team who can sign him to a fairly cheap one year deal and flip him at the deadline. This is what good rebuilding teams do. If he sucks then who care it’s one year at a fairly low cost.
Simm – I think his baggage has a lot more to do with his unemployment than his salary demands.
dewey – I’m usually pretty good with acronyms, but I give up … what is aor?
Aor likely is a typo for the word: more
NY – Thank you! I didn’t think of that because only 3 letters were typed, but I’ll go with it :O)
Redsox is a fkk Joke!! Red,Royal soend good money…even team wt no money like the Padres make trade to get better!! Last place again shiiiiiit
Spend
yeah, it’s gonna be really ugly in Boston this year, finished last place last year and have gotten worse, meanwhile every other team in the division has gotten better, at least on paper, don’t know if it translates to more wins but their rosters are certainly improved while the Sox is not as good, I expect we will be lucky to win 70 this season
lf – Tampa got worse, but yeah unless several Red Sox players step up this season and stay healthy it’s probably gonna be another last place team.
Especially with the message ownership sent by not addressing the starting pitching. They proved what most of us knew all along, they don’t believe in this year’s team and are planning to basically forfeit this year as yet another “bridge year”.
The players, Cora and the coaching staff have got to be really unhappy about that message. Those who are on guaranteed multi-year contracts are probably not very motivated because of the lack of support by ownership.
The one silver lining, this probably means the end for Cora as Red Sox manager.
If it isn’t purely financial, there appears something of a disconnect involving Mike Clevinger that is not readily apparent to the fan.
He is better than a few starters sprinkled about the ball yards.
Agree. Possibly Clevinger is looking around the league at all these injuries and is reluctant to commit to another 162 full season grind. Heck, he’s not getting any younger and he’s made a nice living. And recently got paid last year plus sitting on another 4 mil in buyout money. What’s the rush to get back on the mound?
I thought it was reported he was okay with taking a one year deal? I think due to the allegations made against him, although nothing came about them, that he is getting the Bauer and Ozuna *Astros pitcher* treatment.
Braves – THANK YOU.
It’s amazing how so few here are aware of his baggage or realize how that has impacted his marketability.
how so few here are aware of his baggage
===============
Probably because neither the police nor Manfred pressed charges.
Joe – Agreed, it did not get as much attention because of those two reasons.
Sorry but I find it very doubtful he’s trying to avoid committing to playing a full season. He’s likely not seeing the offers he expected to see.
Since his Tommy John Surgery he has been a much different pitcher. His control is much worse walking batters at a higher rate, more HBPs, and more WPs. He is also giving up HRs at a higher rate.
He is not Roger Clemens in the twilight of his career aided by PEDs. Clevinger does not have the luxury of pitching at his convenience.
I’d think that competing for a World Series is as important, if not more, than the paycheck for someone like Clevinger who already has the financial security. He’s pitched in the postseason quite a bit already too
His #s post TJS are a red flag in itself. On top of that there are child abuse allegations against his 10 month old child. He is trying to salvage his career at this point, not looking for opportunity to pitch in playoffs or avoiding a 162 game schedule.
No way Monty takes that structured deal from the Yankees. If he doesn’t fall off, he should much better long-term financially in his career even if doesn’t opt-out next season with the Dbacks.
Even if he took a low pay of $2 to 3 million. He still be much better off than the rest of us here.
Does any really think the terms mentioned by the Yankees were ever seriously considered by Montgomery. Boras’ simply needed any leverage he could find and likely tried to use that “other team” during negotiations with AZ.
dewey – You are 100% correct.
It doesn’t take much critical thinking to realize if you’re in Monty’s situation, you take the one year contract and hope for the best this season. You don’t lock into a longterm below market contract just because your agent failed horribly.
Billionaires and millionaires, just wish that I was one of them. 😉
I better tell the wife to pick up a lottery ticket!
Or a job…
Do what you gotta do homie, just don’t be one of those jabronis who holds up the line at the gas station because you feel like buying 30 different scratch off lotto tickets and then decide to scratch off half of em at the counter 🙂
Craven – Even worse is when the clerk checks a bunch of tickets for winners or enters numbers for draw games ….. both should be done by the customer, not the clerk.
Fever Pitch Homie – growing up in NY I’ve probably wasted 10 hours of my life waiting behind MFers at gas stations who decided to spend $70 on lotto tickets lol
Craven – I hear ya, and you probably don’t use your card at the pump because of all the skimming that goes on at gas stations.
Don’t even get me going on self-checkout lines, I am a very patient person but NOT when it comes to waiting in lines.
Oh 100% buddy. Mad card skimmers go to them pumps in urban areas. I always pay cash inside.
Craven – Enjoy paying cash while you can, we are headed to a cashless Big Brother society. It still irks me that cash isn’t accepted at many baseball parks.
I’m slow to adjust to the new-fangled ways, but the new schitt is crazy good. Tap & pay probably would’ve saved me weeks of my life.
Clevinger shunned nearly to the point of being Trevor Bauer 2.0, of course, not for the same reason!
Close to the same reasons. Both are clubhouse killers for one. Both are borderline borderline felons for another.
Unfortunately there’ll be an injury this week that will represent an opportunity for clevinger’s agent. I’m guessing he’s also a good fit for a central division team of either league.
There are always things BESIDES money that makes teams shy away from some players. It’s the things fans don’t see that teams have to consider. The term “clubhouse cancer” is tossed around a lot, but it’s likely overused.. The adjustments you make coming up through a system are what prepares you for living with (basically) 24 other guys and 7 or 8 man coaching staffs. You don’t HAVE to love your teammates, but you do have to part of a group effort with a set goal. In the minors you realize that each guy you play with or against may be the one who helps shine the light on YOU. If you don’t get along with an attitude that you don’t need your teammates, you will make it on your own, you lose. An old veteran player I knew who managed major and minor leagues for years after playing called it “letters from home”. After a game or series, managers have to report back to higher ups about players who stand out, and those expected to, but don’t. Bad attitude, even with good numbers can make you a minor league lifer. Teams need some of these lifers, and guys with AAA talent only, to try and test their real prospects. Remember the “Bull Durham” character, Crash Davis? He was typical of great minor league AAA or AA talent, but the majors would swallow him whole. However, he showed his teammates how to handle it all, be a professional. Even that character, deep in his heart, knew he wasn’t going anywhere.. I’ve had season seats in Minor league parks for almost 20 years and I’ve seen so many guys who my best advice would be, take the UPS test, or the Postal Service test, because you’re going to have to work a real job someday. But these guys are minor league stars, fan favorites who have to face facts. On the other side, while most minor leaguers make peanuts, some of these AAA talent players make 80K or more because the team wants them around to show their prospects how to act and get along and make a career for themselves. A life in baseball is very tough, very trying for someone who isn’t quite good enough, but can’t give up the dream. (where you find coaches and managers)
Red Sox are a disgrace. The are 37 million under the cap. They could have signed Montgomery to that contract. They could pick up Clevinger. They aren’t doing a damn thing.
They actually cut payroll, raised ticket prices and then say they are trying to compete.
What do you mean the Red Sox aren’t doing a damned thing? The’ve added Irish nachos to and a chicken-and-waffle bowl the Fenway Park concession menu. Woohoo! Full throttle, baby!
Sorry about the syntax there.
Syntax? There’s a tax on almost everything. …
new – They also took away free tiny packets of sunscreen lotion at ST and started charging fans $10 for promotional giveaways!
Talk about a greedy cheapskate franchise!!
I think someone who complains about not getting free sunscreen lotion is more appropriately called “cheapskate.”
@PKCasimir It’s merely an observation about teams cutting back operating costs. I got mildly annoyed when McD’s started charging for $.25 for extra nugget sauce while I eat there once in a blue moon.
PK – Have you ever been in Florida and forgot to put lotion on? Or the forecast said cloudy all day and it turned out to be all sun?
There’s a reason why every other ST facility provides it, not only packets but also dispensers.
And charging $10 for bobbleheads and other promos that have always been free is even worse.
YBC – Thank you! Yes it’s crazy how far large corporate entities go to nickel and dime their customers these days.
Have you heard the latest? Fast food restaurants are migrating to dynamic pricing. Wendy’s will charge higher prices during peak hours of the day. If you don’t use their app, you wouldn’t know what anything costs until you get there.
Nothing annoys me more than MLB parks doing away with their box office. You could be standing literally near the stadium entrance, but you’re not allowed to buy tickets there. Has to be done online, which means you have to pay the ridiculous online fees. It amazes me that more fans haven’t complained about this, apparently the spending of more money doesn’t matter to them.
Goose – The worst part about their behavior this offseason is telling the world they were going “Full Throttle” by supposedly pursuing a bunch of talented free agents, and then after fans were locked into season tickets and other ticket packages they admitted this will be yet another “bridge year”. Their reputation couldn’t be any worse than it is right now.
Red Sox CEO Sam Kennedy acknowledges Red Sox ticket sales are down for 2024 season per MassLive Chris Contillo.
I guess fans are making their frustrations known. GOOD!!
Even paying 110% the Yankees should have signed one of snell or Monty. It’s one year deal, it’s the Yankees. Them and the dodgers print money.
Why trade for one year of Soto and not go for it with both feet in. Soto is far from a guaranteed extension candidate. As it stands and I know a lot of people are high on the Yankees, I’m not even sure if this is a playoff team. How much better are they right now vs last year? Could be a lot could be not at all. Having snell or Monty would have improved their wiggle room by a decent amount. With Cole out for a while they are going to need guys who weren’t good or injured last year to rebound.
A healthy Judge, Stanton, Rizzo , Cortes, Rodon while adding Soto, Vertugo , Wells, Dominguez a an improved bullpen will add 15 wins to last years team and thats excluding a healthy Cole and improved Volpe. I see huge things this season .
Apologies, anthony, but ya gotta pump the brakes at that first sentence. Health from this core is not a given. Judge is already been banged up. DJ is on the IL. Stanton, Cortes, Rodon all have a lot to prove. Verdugo isn’t all that. Wells is the backup to start. Dominguez won’t be available till after the ASB. How is the bullpen improved? Soto is obviously a great add, but without the team building around him it took away more than he adds. Stroman was a fine addition, and Berti was a nice deal yesterday, but that was a replacement one so except for the OF I don’t see these huge things unless EVERYTHING broke right and that’s a huge ask.
The only reason I could see them bringing in Soto was to try to sell him on signing, but I think if I’m him I look at what they’ve (not) done since his acquisition and factor that into my decision. Ultimately I think that deal will be fruitless.
Anthony- if, if’s and buts were candy and nuts we would all have a Merry Christmas.
You listed a lot of things that have to go right this year. Every one of those people listed have question marks except Soto.
Simm – Name a MLB team, any MLB team, and I can list several question marks.
@Simms Not having offensive black holes this season at 3B, LF, and, to an extent, 1B matters. Volpe should also improve with an altered swing plane. Adding three LHHs to the roster helps. And there’s always the trade deadline.
Guess you’re all set then.
Good luck this season. Opening day, is a wonderful day.
If Clevinger is the only FA of note I guess Trevor Bauer doesn’t exist!
I think the implication is that Trevor Bauer is not a viable FA as far as MLB teams are concerned. The fact he said he would pitch for league minimum, and had no offers, in a league which desperately needs good pitching reflects the reality that teams aren’t going to give him a shot.
Clip – When the owners of all MLB teams have their meetings, anytime a majority of the owners agree on a subject the remaining owners follow suit.
So if let’s say 20 owners believe Bauer would be bad for baseball, the other 10 will stand in solidarity with them. Nobody wants to be the black sheep. A directive can’t come down from the commissioner, otherwise that would be collusion.
There’s still a possibility out there of a team adding the right-left-right combo of Bauer, Urias and Clevenger.
Ed – Not unless Al Davis is resurrected and takes over an MLB team!
I’m having a hard time believing Heyman’s reading a script prepared by Boras that amounts to “Don’t blame me if the Yankees didn’t offer 7/$172 to Montgomery.”
Once the Yankees announced their starting rotation. It was obvious they weren’t going to be extending an offer.
The Red Sox pitching maybe better than you think. If their defense improves. What Smith got from the Dodgers sounds good for Casas.
I think the one team I am surprised that didn’t make a viable offer to compete (that we know of) is the Giants. They could’ve used Monty for one or two seasons and easily afforded him at this rate.
Montgomery could have fallen to us and yet Breslow was not interested. Full Throttle with Spendlow Breslow another “Bridge Year”. Hopefully it is not like the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Another last place finish in Boston.
Al – The thing that bothers me the most is all the lies coming from the Sox front office.
They kept leaking “we are moving payroll to afford signing him” and “we are waiting for his price and 7 year ask to come down”.. Well his price and ask came all the way down to one year at $25M, and STILL the Sox didn’t sign him. It was all BS as usual, smoke and mirrors.
As for the “moving payroll” crap, it’s been noted if they were truly intent on clearing payroll for Monty they wouldn’t have signed Hendriks or Anderson and they would have made the Bello extension effective next year instead of this year.
They are truly an unethical franchise that cannot be trusted.
The Red Sox will be in a bridge year / rebuild year for another 5 years. The ownership group is content , as long as they are turning a profit. Unfortunately I think they will keep playing this hand . If any of these young guys become elite players they won’t pay them. Front office will spin a narrative that they need to rebuild