The Yankees are currently in talks with top free agent starting pitcher Blake Snell, who currently wins the National League Cy Young Award, and Rangers' October hero Jordan Montgomery, while at the same time signing Dylan Montgomery.・A person familiar with the matter said that the company is also considering major trade candidates, including Cease. Said.
While the two sides remain far apart on Snell, Montgomery and trade option negotiations, it is believed that the Yankees will acquire key personnel to help their rotation before the season. Managing partner Hal Steinbrenner is said to be supportive of the concept of seriously adding to a rotation that has suffered several losses through trades and free agency.
The Yankees like both Snell and Montgomery, but believe Snell has a better chance at this point. Snell will team up with ace Gerrit Cole to give both teams defending Cy Young Award winners for the first time since the 1990 Royals. There was 1989 winner Bret Saberhagen and Mark Davis.
There's some speculation that Montgomery might prefer to return to Texas after helping the Rangers win their first World Series, and a sign that the local TV issues that have stalled their winter may be nearing a resolution. is also getting stronger. Snell is from the West Coast (Seattle) and has interests there, but he is said to have no geographic preference, as some feared.
The Yankees have also been in contact with the White Sox about ace Cece, with the Orioles, Reds, Mets and possibly more teams interested in him. But as with free agency, there are currently serious gaps in negotiations, and some Yankees officials are unsure whether Cease, who is not a free agent until after 2025, will be signed this winter. That's right. In any case, in the end, it may be difficult to outbid Baltimore, which is loaded with baseball's top prospects.
The Yankees are also in talks with the Marlins, who have inquired about acquiring several starting pitchers, including Jesus Luzardo, Edward Cabrera, Braxton Garrett and Trevor Rodgers. But there's also no evidence of real traction yet.
With little activity on the trade front, the most promising area may be the free agent market. Snell is a two-time Cy Young Award winner and, at age 30, the youngest player to hit the free agent market (Pedro Martinez and Saberhagen were 32). Yankees officials like him, but they have some concerns about his year-to-year consistency given his asking price.
Montgomery is expected to sign for some less than Carlos Rodon's $162 million salary, but his market appears to be solid. Outside of Texas, Montgomery has been linked to the Red Sox, Phillies, Giants, Angels and Mets. Snell is believed to have interest from at least the Angels and Giants, and possibly the Phillies, who would like to add starting pitching even after bringing back homegrown star Aaron Nola.
