After trading away a sizeable chunk of their pitchers for a Juan Soto trade, it was obvious that the New York Yankees needed a pitcher. Now with the team losing Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s sweepstakes due to their low offer, the Yankees’ search for a pitcher continues. With names like Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery remaining in the market, will the MLB world be witnessing a romantic homecoming, or both 2023 Cy Young Winners wearing the pinstripe?

The pitching free agency market is slowly picking up after Yamamoto’s record-breaking deal. With most of the league in search of quality aces, the competition is intense. But players like Snell and Montgomery come with their own set of challenges that the Bombers will have to deal with if they want to land a deal.

The growing need for Pitchers for the New York Yankees 

Pitching has been the Yankees’ Achilles’ heels. Other than ace Gerrit Cole, the Pinstripes had a shockingly poor display last season. With the top starters either injured or tremendously out of form, there was not much support for Cole’s masterclass apart from Clarke Schmidt. So it’s no surprise that The Athletic reported, “It’s entirely possible that the Yankees could switch gears and look toward top free-agent pitchers Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, both lefties.”

These links have emerged immediately after the Yankees failed in their pursuit of Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The team has already lost quality pitchers like Michael King to a trade for Soto. The Bronx Squad urgently requires pitchers to bolster their roster. This is where Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery come into the picture.

Montgomery was a Yankee till last year when the franchise decided to trade him. Even after years of being part of the Pinstripes, Monty never quite rose to the top of their lineup. But after his trade, he has turned into a pitching superstar and a World Series winner with the Texas Rangers. As a result, a reunion is at least being talked about internally as per insiders’ reports. 

Watch This Story: Unveiling The Top 5 MLB Icons, Creating Buzz In The Free-Agent Market This Offseason

On the other hand, Blake Snell hasn’t ever had a strong link with the Bombers. But the 2023 Cy Young Winner would add tremendous depth to the Bombers’ lineup. His experience and left-handedness could be advantageous in the Yankee Stadium. But things aren’t as simple as they look.

The challenging journey to get an ace

Monty was traded precisely because the Yankees felt their pitching department was overstuffed. Also, the Yamamoto deal has reset the market. Are the Yankees prepared to pay an excessive amount for a player on the wrong side of the thirties? The same goes with Blake Snell, who poses an even bigger issue.

Signing Snell would make the Yankees eligible for the qualifying offer penalty. Are the Bombers willing to lose their draft pick for a 31-year-old Snell, who has struggled to maintain consistency throughout his career?

As it stands, there’s a lot to think about for the Yankees in their quest for a pitcher.

Read more: With Angels and Giants Leading Blake Snell Sweepstakes, Are Cubs Out of the Race Already?