Cardinals could pursue reunion with former playoff standout this winter

The St. Louis Cardinals are falling out of postseason contention, and fast.

After overcoming a 15-24 start, St. Louis has fallen to two games under .500 at 61-63. They're five games back in the Wild Card race and 11 back in the National League Central.

Soon, it may be time for the team to turn its focus to 2025 and beyond. This could lead them to pursue a reunion with a former postseason standout.

"Jordan Montgomery surprisingly could land a long-term contract last offseason, instead signing a one-year, $25 million deal with the Diamondbacks that included a $20 million player option for 2025," Jim Bowden wrote in The Athletic. "How he pitches in August, September, and perhaps October will determine whether he enters free agency and gets a longer-term deal."

Montgomery joined the Cardinals in 2022 after being acquired from the New York Yankees, only to be flipped to the Texas Rangers the following year. He helped guide the Rangers to their first ever World Series title.

The 31-year-old didn't sign until late in the offseason and has posted a 6.25 ERA in his 18 starts. But assuming he declines his player option, he could be of use to the Cardinals.

He's coming off perhaps the best season of his career in 2023, when he posted a 3.20 ERA over 32 starts. He'll need to turn things around this year in order to have some leverage in potentially declining his player option.

But if the Cardinals do pursue him, they would be going after a familiar face and somebody who can legitimately be considered a No. 2 starter when right.

He and Sonny Gray would form a formidable one-two punch at the top of the rotation for 2025, so it would certainly be worth it for the Cardinals to pursue a reunion.

The veteran left-hander may ultimately end up being a short-term arrangement, but if he pitches well enough, he could be in line to receive the long-term deal he was looking for last offseason.

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