The New York Yankees will start the season missing three of their top five starting pitchers. Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Gil are all sidelined. While Schmidt and Gil are expected to return later in the year, Cole is not.
Without those three, the Yankees’ rotation is significantly weakened, with many considering it one of the worst in the league. However, they might explore reuniting with a former pitcher to take Carlos Carrasco’s spot in the Bronx.
Arizona talk show host John Gambadoro recently reported that multiple teams have shown trade interest in Diamondbacks starter Jordan Montgomery. While it’s unclear which teams are in the mix, the Yankees would be a logical fit.
Montgomery spent the first five and a half years of his MLB career with the Yankees, recording a 3.94 ERA across 97 starts. Following a stellar 2023 season, the left-hander struggled last year before opting into his player option, worth over $20 million for the 2025 season.
The Diamondbacks would likely cover about half of Montgomery’s salary to facilitate a trade. They might even add a lower-tier prospect to help move his contract.
The Yankees could acquire Montgomery as a low-risk addition to their rotation while also gaining a prospect to sweeten the deal. Their main cost would be taking on part of his hefty contract, which might be worthwhile given their urgent need for pitching.
If Montgomery can regain his 2023 form, this trade could be a game-changer for the Yankees. It’s certainly a move worth considering.
