With Jordan Montgomery likely on the trading block, it’s time to think about destinations where the left-hander could land. The St. Louis Cardinals have said they’re selling at the deadline, and Montgomery is an attractive trade chip for teams looking for starting pitching.
It’s never a good time watching your favorite baseball team have a subpar year. The season turns into a long slog to the finish, and looking toward the future serves as little consolation. What can make a fan somewhat less sad, however, is when your team’s front office is refreshingly honest about their situation. Some teams’ front offices spend a large part of the year in denial about their postseason hopes. Others, though, see the writing on the wall sooner and pull the trigger on moves focusing on the future.
This year, the Cardinals have opted for the latter course. With the team sitting in fourth in the NL Central, general manager John Mozeliak said earlier this month that the team would be looking to trade players at the deadline, without going into specifics.
Cardinals president of baseball ops John Mozeliak in the interview below: “Right now, I can tell you we’re going to trade people. I just don’t know if it’s going to be household names or more of guys who are just not likely to be here next year.”https://t.co/CbNTk7eidN
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) July 12, 2023
If the Cards hope to contend next year, stars like Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt are likely to stay. However, starting pitchers like Montgomery and Jack Flaherty are prime candidates to be moved. Both are free agents at the end of the season and would be ideal rental pieces. Since a southpaw starter is a more specialized role, let’s look at some teams that could use a lefty in their rotation. Montgomery could prove valuable in their postseason run.
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Possible Trade Destinations for Jordan Montgomery
Minnesota
The Minnesota Twins are currently clinging to a narrow lead in the AL Central. While their second isn’t blowing anyone away, they are very much in postseason contention. The Twins’ pitching staff currently ranks third in MLB with a team ERA of 3.77. Although this would suggest they’re good to go on the pitching front, they’re missing one important piece: a left-handed starter.
Montgomery would fit this need perfectly. His record in 2023 is a modest 6-7, but that is largely due to his team’s struggles. In 109 innings pitched, he sports a 3.14 ERA, 101 strikeouts against only 29 walks, and a 139 ERA+, a career-high. He could slot in third or fourth in the rotation, perhaps behind Sonny Gray and ahead of Bailey Ober, who is enjoying a breakout year. Montgomery would feel right at home at Target Field. Its high right-field wall would likely keep a good amount of hard-hit balls he’d surrender in the ballpark. The Twins would be well-served to add a missing piece to a strong part of their team. It would make them more well-rounded as October approaches.
Baltimore
We now turn to another contender lacking in lefty starters. The Baltimore Orioles have been a pleasant surprise this year in terms of just how quickly they’ve started to contend. The two main reasons for this are their dynamic young offense and a strong bullpen. Their rotation has been middling at best, although Tyler Wells and Kyle Bradish are putting up strong numbers. Their only lefty starter, Cole Irvin, has been used less frequently than his rotation mates. Montgomery would fit the bill perfectly as a deadline addition. His ERA would be the second lowest among O’s starters (behind Bradish’s 3.05) and he’d give them a solid lefty arm in October. That will be much needed against an AL field loaded with powerful lefty bats.
Toronto
The Toronto Blue Jays are also in the market for a back-end starter in the second half. While the front of their rotation is strong, they recently had to send down Alek Manoah in the midst of his tough season. Their lone lefty starter, Yusei Kikuchi, has improved in 2023, but Jays fans haven’t forgotten his struggles from last year, and he still has a tendency to give up the long ball. Montgomery could help stop the bleeding at the back of the rotation, and let the potent Jays offense do their thing. He has infamously suffered from poor run support in the past, but that could change in a heartbeat if he found the right team.
Assuming Jordan Montgomery is on the move, there are several trade destinations where he’d be a plus to their rotation. Some teams may overlook him, but he fills a niche that several contenders will need in October.
Photo Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned: Jordan Montgomery, Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, Jack Flaherty, Sonny Gray, Bailey Ober, Tyler Wells, Kyle Bradish, Cole Irvin, Alek Manoah, Yusei Kikuchi
