The hot stove season in Major League Baseball begins on November 25. Jordan Montgomery, a left-handed pitcher, is one player who is in high demand. Although the New York Yankees and the St. Louis Cardinals are two well-known teams, the Texas Rangers are eager to have him back.

Montgomery was dealt to the Cardinals in 2022 after playing with the Yankees for the first six seasons of his MLB career. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is a Japanese pitcher that interests the Yankees and a lot of other teams.

The Cardinals still don’t have a real ace, despite the addition of Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson to their rotation recently. They are favored to sign right-hander Sonny Gray, and they were allegedly interested in Aaron Nola before he committed to a long-term contract with the Phillies.

The information that Montgomery had a very successful three-month run with the Rangers during the previous season was made public on November 15. He pitched like an ace in crucial postseason games, which was a major factor in the team’s World Series victory. Though he is now a free agent, there is a chance he will sign with the Rangers again, and given his track record of success there, sources think it’s a good fit.

With Max Scherzer, Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray, Dane Dunning, and Andrew Heaney expected to return, the Rangers’ rotation does appear full right now. Jacob deGrom hopes to join later in the season after recovering from elbow surgery. Montgomery’s ability to sign a new contract with the Rangers is doubtful because he is likely to demand a large salary, maybe reaching $100 million.

However, the Rangers have indicated that they may try to re-sign Montgomery by expressing interest in Josh Hader and Shohei Ohtani, two prominent free agents.

Although Montgomery won’t land a $200 million contract in free agency, it’s possible that he will come close, according to a report on November 9. It’s thought that the experienced starter would rather rejoin the Rangers, Cardinals, or Yankees—three organizations he has experience with. Experts predict that his prospective deal might be worth $127 million.

The Boston Red Sox, led by new general manager Craig Breslow, showed interest in Montgomery on November 7. Strengthening their rotation is a top priority for the Red Sox, who have already spoken with Scott Boras, Montgomery’s agent, about the situation.

The Red Sox now have a number of pitchers scheduled to appear in their rotation in 2024, including Tanner Houck, Nick Pivetta, Garrett Whitlock, and Chris Sale, in addition to Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford. Montgomery is a desirable option for the Red Sox because of his reliable play, which includes a 2.90 ERA in the postseason.

Unlike other elite free-agent pitchers, Montgomery does not have to pay for his draft pick, which may make him a more appealing option for the Red Sox. He is also acquainted with the AL East, having played for the Yankees for the majority of his career, and he has a track record of strong outings at Fenway Park.