Rangers Bring Back World Series Hero Jordan Montgomery on One-Year Deal
The Texas Rangers are reuniting with a familiar face - and a postseason legend - as they’ve agreed to a one-year deal with left-hander Jordan Montgomery. The contract is worth $1.25 million and includes performance bonuses, a low-risk move with the potential for high reward if Montgomery can recapture even a glimpse of his 2023 magic.
Montgomery hasn’t pitched since a rough 2024 campaign with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he struggled to a 6.23 ERA and a -1.4 bWAR over 117 innings. That season ended with a trade deadline move to Milwaukee, but he never threw a pitch for the Brewers. Shortly after, he underwent a hybrid elbow ligament reconstruction procedure in March, sidelining him for the entire 2025 season.
Now, nearly a year removed from surgery, Montgomery is on the comeback trail - and back with the team where he made his biggest mark.
A Postseason to Remember
Rangers fans don’t need a refresher on what Montgomery meant to the 2023 championship run. Acquired from the Cardinals at the trade deadline that year, Montgomery immediately stabilized the rotation, posting a 2.79 ERA over 11 regular-season starts. But it was in October where he truly etched his name into franchise lore.
Montgomery kicked off the postseason with a dominant Game 1 start in the AL Wild Card Series against the Rays, spinning seven scoreless innings. He hit a bump in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Orioles, giving up five runs (four earned) in four innings, but the Rangers’ bats bailed him out in an 11-8 win.
Then came the ALCS against the Astros - and Montgomery delivered. He threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings in Game 1 to set the tone for the series.
In Game 5, he gave up just two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings, though Texas fell short in a tight 5-4 loss. But his most memorable outing came in Game 7.
With the Rangers’ season on the line, Montgomery came out of the bullpen in the third inning and delivered 2 1/3 scoreless frames, helping Texas punch its ticket to the World Series with an emphatic 11-4 win.
His final postseason line? A 2.90 ERA across 31 high-leverage innings - the kind of October performance that franchises remember for decades.
What’s Next in 2026
Montgomery’s return is more about the long game than immediate impact. The Rangers’ medical director, Dr.
Keith Meister - the same surgeon who performed Montgomery’s procedure - is overseeing his rehab. The lefty is expected to be back on the mound around the All-Star break.
Once the deal is finalized, Montgomery will be placed on the 60-day injured list. But before that happens, the Rangers will need to make a corresponding move to clear space on their already full 40-man roster.
As for the current rotation, Texas isn’t exactly hurting for arms. Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, MacKenzie Gore, and Jack Leiter are expected to headline the starting five, with the final spot likely coming down to Jacob Latz or Kumar Rocker. Cody Bradford is also on track to return in May.
Still, you can never have too much pitching - especially when two of your top arms, deGrom and Eovaldi, have extensive injury histories. If the rotation is intact and healthy by the time Montgomery is ready, he could slot in as a versatile bullpen weapon, bringing postseason experience and left-handed depth to a team that knows how valuable both can be come October.
Montgomery’s return doesn’t just add another arm - it brings back a proven playoff performer who’s already helped deliver a title. If he can get back to form, this reunion could be one of the savvier moves of the Rangers’ offseason.