Boston, MA
Why one Red Sox free agent target is now living in Boston, throwing at BC this winter
One Red Sox free agent target is getting a long look at the city of Boston this winter.
Free agent lefty Jordan Montgomery is spending the winter in Boston, calling the city his offseason home while his wife, McKenzie, begins her dermatology residency at an area hospital. Montgomery has been working out and throwing at Boston College in recent weeks, according to multiple sources.
Montgomery’s move to Boston — at least for now — is not directly related to his free agent process and was necessitated by his wife’s career. But it’s notable that the South Carolina native is getting a chance to see what life is like in the city. The Red Sox are one of many teams interested in signing the lefty, according to a source, and met with his representatives at the GM meetings in Arizona earlier this month.
Geography might not be the main factor Montgomery considers as he makes his free agent decision, as players almost always take the highest offer on the table. But the fact Montgomery is living locally can’t hurt the Red Sox, either. First, he’s getting a feel for the city that the club will try to lure him to. Logistically, it would be easy for the Red Sox to get him to Fenway Park for an in-person recruiting meeting. And if Montgomery’s wife’s residency requires her to live in Boston for multiple years, it would seem logical that could potentially be a factor in Montgomery’s decision-making.
Montgomery, who turns 31 on Dec. 27, is one of the top free agents available this winter after posting a 3.20 ERA and 3.56 FIP in 188 ⅔ innings between the Cardinals and Rangers. He pitched especially well after being shipped to Texas in a midseason trade, posting a 2.79 ERA in 11 starts for the eventual World Series champions. In the postseason, the southpaw pitched to a 2.90 ERA in 31 innings.
With Aaron Nola (Phillies) and Sonny Gray (Cardinals) already off the board, Montgomery is one of the top remaining free agent starters available along with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Eduardo Rodriguez, Marcus Stroman, Shota Imanaga and Lucas Giolito. Because he was traded midseason, Montgomery was not eligible to receive a qualifying offer from Texas and therefore won’t require draft pick compensation to sign.
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