Yankees' negotiations with Jordan Montgomery fell short as he signed a $25 million deal with the Diamondbacks, hindered by luxury tax implications.

The Big Picture

Teams in the AL East, like the Yankees and Red Sox, navigated the offseason pitching market with notable pursuits and challenges.

By the Numbers
  • The Yankees proposed a hypothetical four-year, $72 million deal to Montgomery with heavy deferrals, significantly less than his $25 million single-year contract.
  • The Red Sox added right-handers Lucas Giolito and Chase Anderson but have not pursued remaining free agent Mike Clevinger.
Yes, But

The luxury tax threshold posed a significant barrier in the negotiations between the Yankees and Jordan Montgomery, impacting the deal discussions.

State of Play
  • Yankees will start the season with a rotation of Cortes, Rodon, Stroman, Schmidt, Gil, with Cole sidelined.
  • Red Sox's rotation additions include Giolito and Anderson, focusing on internal options for further enhancements.
  • Rays face injury challenges with key players on the IL, giving an opportunity to Austin Shenton for the Opening Day roster.
What's Next

Montgomery's move to the Diamondbacks reshapes the AL East pitching landscape, impacting the strategies of the Yankees and Red Sox going forward.

Bottom Line

The dynamic pitching market in the AL East, impacted by luxury tax concerns, highlights the strategic challenges faced by teams like the Yankees and Red Sox in securing key rotation pieces.