Inside The Cardinals

Ex-Cardinals Hurler Floated As Possible Yankees Trade Target By Top MLB Columnist

The former St. Louis southpaw might return to the Bronx
Nate Hagerty|
Sep 7, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; (Editors note: in camera multiple exposure) St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery (48) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Sep 7, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; (Editors note: in camera multiple exposure) St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery (48) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

In this story:

St. Louis CardinalsNew York Yankees

A former St. Louis Cardinals left-handed pitcher is being floated as a potential trade chip for the New York Yankees amid the American League East club's injury woes.

Not only did the Yankees recently lose 2024 AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil for at least the next three months due to a lat strain but they will also be without ace Gerrit Cole, who will undergo Tommy John surgery on Tuesday, ending his season.

To help the Yankees rotation remain competitive while it waits for Gil's return, a former Cardinals southpaw could be traded to the 27-time World Series champions.

"Erick Fedde, with the Cardinals, and old friend Jordan Montgomery might even be worth a phone call," New York Post's Jon Heyman wrote Monday night following Cole's season-ending surgery announcement. "The (Arizona) Diamondbacks seem more desperate to be rid of Montgomery than the Yankees ever were with (Marcus) Stroman."

Montgomery helped lead the Cardinals to their last postseason appearance in 2022 but was traded the following summer to the Texas Rangers, where he played a pivotal role in helping the franchise win its first-ever World Series title.

However, before being moved to the Cardinals at the 2022 trade deadline, Montgomery was a homegrown Yankees starter -- logging a 22-20 record with a 3.94 ERA, 478-to-146 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .266 batting average against and a 1.23 WHIP throughout six seasons pitched in the Bronx.

The 32-year-old will earn $22.5 million with Arizona this season but after logging his worst campaign last year, Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick might be eager to trade Montgomery.

Considering that the Yankees can't afford to add much to their payroll, Montgomery's $22.5 million salary might be too expensive unless Kendrick is willing to eat a significant portion of the former Cardinals veteran's remaining contract, which expires after this season ends.

More MLB: Yankees Would Be Foolish To Overlook Cardinals Trade Option Amid Gerrit Cole Injury

Published
Nate Hagerty
NATE HAGERTY

Nate Hagerty joined “Inside The Cardinals” as a content creator to spread knowledge about his favorite childhood team. A hometown native of Boston, Hagerty chose at an early age of six years old to follow the St. Louis Cardinals. The miraculous season of 04’ for the Red Sox did not deter Hagerty from rooting against his hometown team, nor did it in 2013 against the Red Birds. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu 

Home/St. Louis Cardinals News