The Texas Rangers are welcoming back a familiar contributor from their 2023 World Series run. Left-handed pitcher is set to rejoin the team on a minimal major league contract, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.
Top veteran hasn’t thrown in a game since 2024, when he struggled with the Arizona Diamondbacks, posting a 6.23 ERA and bouncing in and out of the starting rotation. Last March, he underwent a hybrid elbow ligament reconstruction and is still in the process of returning to full strength on the mound.
At the time of announcing the procedure, Montgomery explained his struggles:
“Just haven’t been recovering very well,” he told reporters. “The day after my last game, I came back sore. I took a day off, but the soreness persisted. We pushed my bullpen session back, and while I threw a decent bullpen the next day, something still felt off. We initially thought it was a minor joint issue that could be fixed with a shot, but it turned out to be more serious.”
Montgomery’s signing will require the Rangers to adjust their 40-man roster. He’ll start on the 60-day injured list immediately, but procedural rules necessitate placing him on the active roster first. This means the Rangers will need to either move a current roster player to the IL or designate someone for assignment, opening the possibility of a waiver claim.
If Montgomery returns to full health around the All-Star break, he could provide a significant boost to the Rangers’ pitching depth and give the team a valuable weapon down the stretch.