Most likely, the Cubs’ final significant deal before Opening Day is the re-signing of outfielder Cody Bellinger last week. The team is on the verge of the luxury tax and wants to avoid being labeled as “repeaters,” so they would only sign a top free agent outright if ownership could be persuaded that doing so would guarantee a trip to the World Series.
Perhaps they can still persuade the upper brass of that opportunity. Undoubtedly, the addition of free-agent pitcher Jordan Montgomery would elevate them to the status of a contender, or at the very least, the team most likely to sneak into October and surprise the Dodgers.
That’s the argument put forth on the Cubbies Crib analysis site, where the team is reportedly considering either Montgomery or Cy Young incumbent Blake Snell. However, Montgomery is a more realistic option because, as analyst Jordan Campbell notes, “the Cubs are likely to be interested in a deal where Montgomery is willing to take a three-year deal, or even a two-year deal, but has opt-outs available after each season.” Montgomery would fill a short-term need at the top of the Cubs’ rotation while still having a chance to cash in within the next season or two.
The idea would be for Montgomery to sign a short-term contract with lots of opt-outs, similar to what Bellinger and fellow Scott Boras free agent Matt Chapman (who signed with the Giants) did during Spring Training. Perhaps the Cubs would be better off with an even lesser contract for Montgomery because he is a pitcher with a less proven resume.
Montgomery, who is 31 years old, has a 3.68 ERA and a 38-34 career record. After a difficult start to his career in New York, he has performed admirably over the past two seasons, going 19–17 with a 3.34 ERA in 64 starts for three different teams. With a 2.90 ERA, he went 3-1 throughout the Rangers’ postseason run to the title game last year.
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