Impact of Recent Pitching Acquisitions on Jordan Montgomery’s Market and Potential Rangers’ Strategies
The trade that brought Chris Sale to the Braves had no effect on left-hander Jordan Montgomery’s market, as the Braves were not expected to be interested in him. However, the Giants’ acquisition of Robbie Ray and the Mets’ agreement with Sean Manaea could potentially impact Montgomery’s potential suitors. The Mets have bolstered their rotation by signing Manaea to a two-year, $28 million deal, while Ray, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, is owed $73 million over three years.
It appears that teams are not waiting for Montgomery and Blake Snell to make their decisions. It is possible that these teams have been informed that they are no longer in the running for these pitchers and have moved on to alternative plans. The Mets and Giants seem to be exploring Plan D or E at this point. On the other hand, the Rangers have been relatively quiet about their plans and have not provided much information. They recently signed Tyler Mahle, but his limited innings early in the season may not provide significant help.
With unexpected sellers emerging in the trade market, such as the Red Sox and Mariners, the Rangers might consider exploring this avenue to improve their roster. Although potential sellers have not made many moves yet, the Rangers still have time to make additions before spring training, which is five weeks away. In the past, they have made late acquisitions during spring training.
As for Montgomery, he is still available, indicating that the Rangers still have a chance to sign him. Interestingly, local barbecue favorite Hurtado has entered the Montgomery sweepstakes by offering him barbecue for life if he re-signs with the Rangers. This offer, made by Brandon Hurtado in a social media video, is genuine and not a joke.
In other news, Lexie Maddux, daughter of former Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux, has developed Commandviation, a series of indexes that evaluate how well pitchers execute their pitches. She hopes that teams, particularly the Rangers, will show interest in her work and that players will utilize it. While she has not extensively showcased her work, a Hall of Famer (her uncle, Greg Maddux) and a recent minor leaguer have already approved of it. Mike Maddux, although not a big fan of analytics, supports his daughter’s endeavor.
Lastly, a heartwarming video depicting a dog forming a friendship with another animal has been shared on social media, bringing joy to everyone who watches it.