Yankees never got close to a Jordan Montgomery deal despite interest

HOUSTON — Word is Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner badly wanted to bring back free agent Jordan Montgomery, the last remaining available pitcher, to bolster their capable but questionable rotation heading into their opener Thursday against the Astros. And Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and Montgomery’s agent, Scott Boras, had each other on speed dial over the last several days.

Ideas were exchanged. Arguments were made. Points were considered.

But the sides never got traction, or even close to traction.

The issue, as it was with Blake Snell, who went to the Giants, was the fourth-tier, so-called “Steve Cohen tax.” Blame Steinbrenner if you will, but that 110 percent tax on teams over the $297M threshold is quite the disincentive for almost all, ironically for probably everyone but Cohen himself (who brought in DH extraordinaire J.D. Martinez late, and will pay that onerous tax.)

While the Yankees had at least one four-year idea for Montgomery, there’s no evidence any official offers were presented (details below on what the Yankees were thinking, if not offering). So Montgomery on Tuesday night agreed to a $25 million, one-year deal with the Diamondbacks that with at least 10 starts in 2024 will become two years at $45M-$50M and include an opt-out.

With the Yankees’ usual lofty hopes but roster diminished by injury — ace Gerrit Cole and veteran third baseman DJ LeMahieu are the headliners on their injured list this time — the Yankees arrived at their personal house of horrors. They’ll start with a makeshift rotation in a year they’re allegedly “hellbent” on winning the championship. These hated Houston Astros (and a few others) have prevented the Yankees from even getting close to their 28th World Series title for going on a decade and a half now.