Yankees Looking to Trade $18 Million Starter With New Additions to Staff

The New York Yankees have added Jameson Taillon and Corey Kluber to their starting rotation this offseason. This has led to speculation that the team may be willing to trade one of their current starters, such as Jordan Montgomery. Montgomery is set to make $18 million in 2023, which is a significant salary for a team that is already over the luxury tax threshold.

Arguments for Trading Montgomery

There are several reasons why the Yankees might want to trade Montgomery. First, Taillon and Kluber are both more experienced and have a better track record than Montgomery. Taillon has a career ERA of 3.67, while Kluber has a career ERA of 3.16. Montgomery, on the other hand, has a career ERA of 4.06.

Second, Taillon and Kluber are both under contract for multiple years, while Montgomery is only under contract for one year. This gives the Yankees more flexibility in their rotation planning. Third, trading Montgomery would allow the Yankees to save money. Montgomery is set to make $18 million in 2023, while Taillon and Kluber are both set to make less than $10 million.

Arguments Against Trading Montgomery

There are also some arguments against trading Montgomery. First, Montgomery has been a solid starter for the Yankees. He has a winning record and a sub-4.00 ERA in each of the past two seasons. Second, Montgomery is a left-handed pitcher, which gives the Yankees a valuable balance in their rotation. Third, trading Montgomery would create a hole in the Yankees’ rotation. The team would need to find another starter to replace him, and it is not clear who that starter would be.

Conclusion

The Yankees have a difficult decision to make regarding Montgomery. There are several reasons why they might want to trade him, but there are also some reasons why they might want to keep him. Ultimately, the decision will come down to what the Yankees believe is best for the team in the long run.

Expert Opinions

Several experts have weighed in on the Yankees’ decision regarding Montgomery. ESPN’s Jeff Passan believes that the Yankees are “likely” to trade Montgomery, while CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa believes that the Yankees will keep Montgomery.

“The Yankees have a lot of starting pitching depth, and Montgomery is a valuable trade chip,” Passan wrote. “He’s a left-handed starter who has been durable and effective, and he’s under team control for one more year. The Yankees could get a lot in return for him.”

“The Yankees have a lot of starting pitching depth, but Montgomery is a valuable member of the rotation,” Axisa wrote. “He’s a left-handed starter who has been durable and effective, and he’s under team control for one more year. The Yankees would be wise to keep him.”

Historical Precedent

The Yankees have a history of trading away starting pitchers. In recent years, the Yankees have traded away Michael Pineda, Sonny Gray, and Masahiro Tanaka. All three pitchers were under team control for multiple years when they were traded.

The Yankees have also traded away left-handed starters in the past. In 2017, the Yankees traded away Jaime Garcia. Garcia was under team control for one more year when he was traded.