Bleacher Report predicts Rangers to reunite with pitcher via offseason trade

It’s that time when eliminated teams begin to salivate over the number of moves they could make this winter.

After a 78-84 year that saw them miss the Postseason, the Texas Rangers are certainly in this boat, and looking to make impactful tweaks. According to a prediction from Bleacher Report, the group from Texas could look to reunite with starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery this offseason.

The southpaw went 8-7 with a 6.23 ERA this past season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He did not sign with the club until March 29th and never seemed to truly find his footing in the desert. Team owner Ken Kendrick was not shy when speaking about the signing earlier this month.

“If anyone wants to blame anyone for Jordan Montgomery being a Diamondback, you're talking to the guy that should be blamed," Kendrick said in a radio interview. "Because I brought it to [the front office's] attention. I pushed for it. They agreed to it—it wasn't in our game plan. You know when he was signed—right at the end of spring training. And looking back, in hindsight, a horrible decision to invest that money in a guy who performed as poorly as he did. It's our biggest mistake this season from a talent standpoint. And I'm the perpetrator of that."

Bleacher Report predicts Rangers to reunite with pitcher via offseason trade

The 31-year-old has a $22.5 million player option for 2025. It is likely he will pick it up, make the smart financial decision, and leave the ball in Arizona’s court. In other words, the Diamondbacks may have no choice but to deal the South Carolina native.

2024 may have been a disaster, but Montgomery was a key part of the Rangers’ 2023 World Series team. After being acquired from the Saint Louis Cardinals, he finished the regular season with a 2.79 ERA across 67.2 innings as a Ranger.

The former fourth-round pick was also effective in October. He earned a 1.29 ERA across 14 innings in the ALCS. He set the tone in Game 1 and tossed 6.1 scoreless innings against the Houston Astros.

It is obviously fair to wonder if Montgomery can return to his 2023 form next year, but with a proper spring program, it may be advantageous for the Rangers to consider a reunion.