Through the early part of January, the only major move the Philadelphia Phillies have made this offseason is re-signing Aaron Nola to a seven-year deal. This solidified their rotation as they pursue another World Series title this year. The Phillies have the luxury of already entering the upcoming season with a loaded roster and did not need an overhaul to compete. That’s why their pursuit of Yoshinobu Yamamoto and these new links to starting pitchers Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery are so interesting. Dave Dombrowski has stated he’s comfortable with the rotation they currently have, but apparently that’s not stopping him from looking at more options. So, if Philadelphia is indeed still looking for another pitching piece, Destiny Lugardo of Phillies Nation, thinks Montgomery would be the better addition than Snell or closer Josh Hader. “If the Phillies want to make another splash, Montgomery would be the best fit out of the three big lefties available,” she proclaims. She points out a couple of different reasons why. The first being the qualifying offer situation impacting Snell and Hader. Signing them would cause the Phillies to send away draft picks.
“If the Phillies wanted to sign either Snell or Hader, that would require the team to give up their second- and fifth-highest selections in next year’s draft along with one million in international bonus pool money,” she writes. Montgomery was not eligible to receive a qualifying offer because the St. Louis Cardinals traded him to the Texas Rangers during the season last year. Lugardo also points out the big lefty is more reliable from an innings perspective than Snell. “Montgomery might not have as high of a ceiling as Snell, but he brings a mix of dependability in the regular season and postseason success that could intrigue the Phillies,” she writes.
