Report: Yankees back in contact with Montgomery

The New York Yankees missed out on signing left-hander Blake Snell - who agreed to a deal with the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday - and appear to be pivoting to an old friend.

The Yankees are back in contact with free-agent left-hander Jordan Montgomery, sources told the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

A gap exists between the two sides, but they continue to talk, adds Heyman.

There's no indication if the Yankees are willing to make Montgomery a similar offer to what they gave Snell - reportedly $150 million over six years - but Montgomery's camp believes he's comparable to Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola, according to Heyman.

Nola received a seven-year, $172-million contract extension from the Phillies in November, but the Yankees are close to surpassing the highest luxury-tax threshold, which could subject them to a 110% tax penalty.

The 31-year-old Montgomery knows the Yankees well. He was drafted by the Bronx Bombers in the fourth round in 2014 and made his big-league debut with them in 2017.

Montgomery spent six seasons with the Yankees before they traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals for Harrison Bader in August 2022. He authored a 22-20 record with a 3.94 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 98 appearances - 97 starts - before the deal.

Montgomery helped the Texas Rangers win the World Series last season after they acquired him in a trade with the Cardinals. Montgomery posted a 2.79 ERA in 11 regular-season starts for the Rangers before logging a 2.90 ERA in 31 postseason frames.

The left-hander has also been connected to the Boston Red Sox and Rangers this offseason.