Rangers could lose star pitcher and postseason hero to World Series foe

The Texas Rangers have long been resigned to the idea that Jordan Montgomery isn't coming back. The prize of the team's 2023 trade deadline was not only tremendous in the second half when Texas needed him most, but he was stellar during the team's postseason run as well.

Unfortunately, the prevailing wisdom for a while is that Monty's performance last year price him well beyond what the Rangers would have been comfortable with spending. Sure, Texas' issues with their TV revenue have played a factor, but it's also tough for any team to meet Montgomery's reported seven-year asking price for any pitcher including a Rangers team that has gotten burned very recently for hefty deals given to pitchers (see: deGrom, Jacob).

As the days to Opening Day ticked down, the question has ultimately become where Montgomery will end up and if he will sign before March 28. However, it does sound like his market is moving a bit more these days, and one team that could scoop him up is a very familiar face.

Rangers Rumors: World Series foe Diamondbacks among dark horse picks to land Montgomery

Up until this point, the popular names on the Montgomery market had been the Yankees, Red Sox, and Angels. However, with the Angels having an owner that doesn't like paying pitchers and wants to decrease payroll, that chatter has died out. Though Yankees are obviously familiar with Monty from earlier in his career (and Gerrit Cole is currently injured) and the Red Sox could really use another rotation arm, there isn't any indication that any deal is close at the moment.

What we do know is that Montgomery has at least two long-term offers in hand, and Arizona would be a good fit. The Diamondbacks do already have Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Brandon Pfaadt in the fold, but their top free agent signing this winter, Eduardo Rodriguez, is dealing with a lat strain and it seems as though the team is very keen on making another deep postseason run in 2024.

To say that all of the current options for Montgomery would be painful for Rangers fans is a bit of an understatement. Adding in the Orioles as a potential suitor, everyone currently in on Montgomery either is an American League contender that could give the Rangers trouble this year ... or is the team that Texas just took on in the World Series.

Perhaps the Rangers will enter the bidding late, or another team that is more palatable will enter the fray, but right now the odds are that Montgomery's new team is not going make Rangers fans very happy.

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