The Texas Rangers are dipping back into a familiar well, bringing back left-hander Jordan Montgomery on a one-year MLB deal worth $1.25 million, with performance bonuses baked in. It’s a low-risk, potentially high-reward reunion with a pitcher who once helped deliver them a World Series title - and who now has something to prove.
Montgomery, 33, is still working his way back from Tommy John surgery, which wiped out his entire 2025 season. He’ll open the year on the 60-day injured list, but the expectation is that he’ll be back in the mix sometime in the second half of the season - maybe sooner if his rehab stays on track. And when he’s ready, the Rangers will be more than happy to have a seasoned arm waiting in the wings.
As it stands, the top of Texas’ rotation is set: Nathan Eovaldi, Jacob deGrom, MacKenzie Gore, and Jack Leiter are penciled in. The fifth spot is more fluid, with Jacob Latz and Kumar Rocker likely battling it out in camp.
But the reality is, rotations rarely stay intact for long. Injuries happen - and in the Rangers’ case, they’ve already seen what happens when they do.
Eovaldi and Gore both missed time last year, and deGrom’s injury history is well-documented. That’s where Montgomery’s return could be a game-changer.
If Latz or Rocker falters, or if the injury bug bites again, Montgomery could slide right in. And even if everyone stays healthy - which would be a luxury - the Rangers could opt for a six-man rotation to manage workloads down the stretch. Either way, Montgomery adds depth, experience, and upside.
But let’s not forget: this is a pitcher trying to bounce back from a rough stretch. After signing a one-year “pillow” deal with the Diamondbacks following a slow-developing free agency, Montgomery struggled mightily in 2024, posting a 6.23 ERA over 117 innings.
The fit in Arizona went south quickly - both on and off the field. Montgomery later changed agents and publicly criticized Scott Boras, saying his free agency had been mishandled.
Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick didn’t mince words either, calling the signing a “horrible decision.”
By the trade deadline, Arizona had seen enough. They shipped Montgomery - and right-hander Shelby Miller - to the Brewers in a salary dump. Montgomery never threw a pitch for Milwaukee, instead continuing his rehab and hitting free agency again this winter.
So why take the chance now? Because Texas knows what Montgomery can be when he’s right.
Just a couple of years ago, he was a playoff hero, a steady, high-leverage arm who delivered when it mattered most. From his days with the Yankees, to a strong stint in St.
Louis, to his title run with the Rangers, Montgomery had established himself as a rock-solid No. 2 starter. That kind of track record doesn’t vanish overnight.
The Rangers are betting that the version of Montgomery who helped them hoist a trophy is still in there - and that, with time and health, he can rediscover that form. The modest salary reflects the risk, but the upside is undeniable. If he returns to form, this could be one of the savvier moves of the offseason.
In the meantime, his signing signals something else: confidence. By bringing in Montgomery now, rather than chasing another ready-to-go starter, the Rangers are showing faith in their internal options to hold the line early on.
They’re not panicking. They’re playing the long game - and if Montgomery can deliver down the stretch, it could pay off in a big way.