The Boston Red Sox have been named time and time again as an ideal destination for free agent pitcher Jordan Montgomery.
MLB insiders have suggested it. Fans have begged the club to sign someone — anyone. Some reporters have suggested that Montgomery himself has an interest in playing for Boston.
His market has been slow and its looking increasingly likely that the 31-year-old could still be unsigned going into spring training — unless the Red Sox's Spanish play-by-play announcer's word is to be believed.
Marino Pepén is reporting that Boston and Montgomery are "getting closer" to reaching a deal.
Buenos días, mi Gente!
— Marino Pepén (@Marino_Pepen) February 9, 2024
Feliz viernes!
Jordan Montgomery y los #RedSox cada vez están más cerca. La especialidad médica que hace su esposa en Boston es una de las razones fundamentales.
Todos los reportes son favorables para que esta firma se realice…
Seguimos, Positivo y OK. pic.twitter.com/xwPZUAAJCl
Rumors between the Red Sox and Jordan Montgomery are picking back up as spring training looms
Pepén's word is not necessarily law — he's had many reports that end up hitting, but he's also posited a fair few misses. But with a possible Kenley Jansen trade on the way, the Red Sox could soon find themselves with more money to spend.
There's other buzz surrounding Montgomery besides Pepén's report. WEEI's Rob Bradford suggested that the Rangers hadn't been in contact with the lefty for quite some time because of his price tag. Boston is among the only other clubs formally linked to the pitcher besides Texas.
Montgomery's asking price is clearly a deterrent for a lot of teams, the Red Sox included. MLB insider Jon Heyman stated that he's searching for a similar deal to the one Carlos Rodón got from the Yankees last season, around six years at $162 million.
But as the pitchers and catchers report date nears, Montgomery may get increasingly desperate. Pitchers need an entire spring training to prepare for the coming season, and joining a team late doesn't seem like a great idea for someone a lot of clubs are hesitant to sign in the first place.
Montgomery could lower his contract expectation to the Red Sox due to his wife's career, as Pepén and many other reporters have speculated. Montgomery's wife, McKenzie, has been serving a medical residency in the Boston area and the pitcher has spent his offseason in the city with her.
There are many factors affecting the Red Sox and potential deal with Montgomery. But after finding out the entirety of the 2024 season is going to be filmed and documented by Netflix, fans are hopeful, although not optimistic, that the front office is going to move to field a better team. Singing Montgomery would be a great first step to the Red Sox's upswing.