Phillies news and rumors 12/29: Team ‘in play’ for starters Snell, Montgomery

Blake Snell is a free agent. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

While the Phillies were unable to convince Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto to join their rotation before he chose the Dodgers in free agents, maybe don’t rule them out for one of the top starting pitchers on the board just yet.

In a Thursday report for The New York Post mainly detailing the Mets’ plan after missing out on Yamamoto as well, Major League Baseball insider Jon Heyman noted that the Phillies “remain in play” when it comes to signing another big-name pitcher in free agency. This year’s National League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and 2023 World Series champion Jordan Montgomery would be atop that list of best free-agent starters.

Heyman reported that the Phillies, Giants, Angels and Red Sox are among the clubs interested in the left-handers Snell and Montgomery, and the Yankees have interest in a potential reunion with Montgomery, who pitched six seasons in New York. It’s unclear if the Mets will have real interest in signing Snell or Montgomery at this point; they’ve recently been c onnected to right-hander Lucas Giolito in free agency.

Snell, 31, was stellar in 2023 for San Diego as he won his second Cy Young Award, posting a 2.25 ERA in 180 innings across 32 starts. He’s dominant at his best, but Snell does have some concerns about volume and durability.

Montgomery, also 31, has been very impressive over his last three seasons, and his 2023 campaign with the Cardinals and Rangers was the best of his career. He had a 3.20 ERA in 32 starts, logging a career-high 188 2/3 innings.

As shown by their pursuit of Yamamoto and their reported interest in other starters, the Phillies appear to still be kicking the tires on some top talent this winter. But after re-signing Aaron Nola to a seven-year deal at the beginning of the offseason, perhaps a depth move or no move at all is more likely for Philadelphia’s rotation. Still, another splash may be possible at the right price for a team that has had success landing top free agents.

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