Phoenix, Arizona – Jordan Montgomery, a 31-year-old southpaw pitcher, signed a one-year, $25 million deal with the Diamondbacks last night. Prior to this signing, the Yankees had been heavily linked to Montgomery during the offseason, with reports suggesting the potential for a reunion. However, negotiations between Montgomery and the Yankees never reached a close deal, as the luxury tax implications proved to be a major obstacle.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Yankees proposed a four-year deal to Montgomery worth $72 million. Despite this offer, Montgomery opted for the more lucrative one-year deal with the Diamondbacks, which will see him earn $25 million in 2024. This decision came after rumors of Montgomery seeking a long-term deal, making it unsurprising that he chose the higher-paying option in Arizona.

With Montgomery off the table, the Yankees will now enter the regular season with a starting rotation consisting of Nestor Cortes, Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Gil. This rotation will be without ace right-hander Gerrit Cole, who is currently dealing with elbow inflammation.

The Red Sox, on the other hand, missed out on Montgomery and instead signed Lucas Giolito this offseason. Despite speculation about adding more starters, the team has not pursued further additions to their rotation mix. Internal options such as Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck, Nick Pivetta, Kutter Crawford, and Garrett Whitlock will need to step up to improve upon last year’s rotation performance.

Injuries have plagued the Rays’ positional corps this spring, leading to opportunities for players like Austin Shenton to make the Opening Day roster. Shenton, a versatile infielder, is set to provide left-handed complement to the team’s positional mix alongside players like Harold Ramirez, Amed Rosario, and Curtis Mead.

Montgomery’s decision to sign with the Diamondbacks has reshaped the landscape of the MLB off-season, leaving the Yankees and other teams to adjust their plans for the upcoming season. As the regular season approaches, teams will rely on their internal options and emerging talents to fill any gaps in their rosters and compete at the highest level.