Dodgers Rumors: LA Linked to World Series Winning Pitcher in Free Agency
Entering the offseason, the Dodgers have a clear need to upgrade their starting pitching, and the team will be doing their due diligence all across the league. This could see them being active in the trade market, or even going out into free agency to land some starters.
The team needs to land at least one front-line starter, and then one or two lower-tier guys to bolster this rotation. It was a weakness of the team last year, and they don't want to make the same mistake again.
One name that has been circulating with the Dodgers of late is left-hander Jordan Montgomery from the Texas Rangers. He was special in their run to winning the World Series, and now LA could be a solid option for him.
“Jordan Montgomery has posted an ERA under 4.00 in each of the past three seasons and over his career is 38-34 with a respectable 3.68 ERA. He made 32 starts this year and posted a 3.20 ERA. The Rangers acquired him at the trade deadline from the Cardinals and he delivered for Texas, going 4-2 with a 2.79 ERA in 11 starts. For the season, opposing batters hit .239 against his changeup and .191 against his curveball. He significantly increased his free-agent value by dominating in the American League Championship Series, going 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA over two starts and one relief appearance.”
Per Jim Bowden of The Athletic
Montgomery increased his value heavily with his playoff performance this year, and it will likely see him get a massive contract. The Dodgers may be hesitant to offer him what it will take to land his services, as they may not believe he is worth it.
He has been a solid pitcher over the years, but his success in the playoffs will get him more money than he is likely worth. LA is all about bargains, so Montgomery may be out of the question for them.
“Most teams I’ve talked with rank Montgomery above Blake Snell even though the Padres lefty is expected to win the National League Cy Young Award this year; that tells you how much Montgomery’s value has risen.”
While he would instantly help the Dodgers starting rotation, there are other options that likely make more sense for this team. Guys like Aaron Nola or Sonny Gray may have better value than Montgomery, which is something the front office is looking at.
The Dodgers have plenty of options to upgrade the starting rotation, and they will bring in more talent this offseason. They know that they were embarrassed in the postseason yet again, and they want to make sure that it doesn’t happen in 2024.
