The New York Mets have their sights set on Japanese sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but that hasn’t stopped them from evaluating other available pitchers in the free agency market.
Among the free-agent starters, the Mets appear to be showing interest in Jordan Montgomery, ranking him higher on their list than Blake Snell and Eduardo Rodriguez. According to reports from Andy Martino of SNY, the Mets are actively seeking to bolster their starting pitching rotation.
Montgomery, a 30-year-old left-hander, delivered an impressive performance in 2023, going 4-2 with a 2.79 ERA in 67.2 innings over 11 starts for the Texas Rangers after being acquired from the Cardinals. His contributions played a key role in the Rangers clinching their first World Series championship.
Throughout the 2023 season, split between the Cardinals and Rangers, Montgomery achieved a combined record of 10-11 with a 3.20 ERA in 188.2 innings pitched across 32 starts. The southpaw’s journey began when he was drafted by the New York Yankees in 2014, where he remained until 2022.
On the other hand, Blake Snell has reportedly expressed interest in joining the Seattle Mariners during free agency. Despite Snell’s reputation as a talented pitcher, the Mariners may prioritize improving their offense, as they ranked 12th in runs scored and 22nd in batting average in the previous season. Additionally, they recorded the second-highest number of strikeouts in the league. If the Mariners decide not to pursue Snell, the Mets could be a viable option to strengthen their starting rotation.
Eduardo Rodriguez presents an intriguing wildcard scenario. After declining a trade to the championship-contending Dodgers while with the Detroit Tigers, Rodriguez chose to opt out of the final three years of his contract with Detroit, making him an available free agent. His future destination remains uncertain, but he could potentially offer significant value to a team seeking pitching prowess.
As the MLB offseason unfolds, the Mets continue their pursuit of talent to bolster their roster for the upcoming season.