The Texas sun seems a little brighter these days. Not just because of the approaching spring, but because of a familiar shadow creeping onto the horizon. Jordan Montgomery, the Houston Astros slayer and World Series hero for the Texas Rangers, looms large in free agency whispers, and Texas is firmly back in the bidding war.

Across the country, the New York Yankees watch with a bittersweet pang. Montgomery is the missing piece they crave, the left-handed antidote to their right-heavy rotation. They are focused, laser-like, on a starter, willing to throw in Josh Hader as a consolation prize if need be, or so is deemed a possible chance by The NY Post columnist and MLB aficionado Jon Heyman.

New York Yankees’ Jordan Montgomery-shaped dream takes a hit with the Rangers’ turn in luck

News has trickled in about a hefty $90 million payday for the Rangers’ local TV deal, injecting fresh life into their offer, a siren song of financial muscle aimed at Jordan Montgomery’s ear. It is a reunion that makes perfect sense—a homecoming to the team he’d helped hoist the trophy with—and a chance to rewrite the narrative in the same script. But the New York Yankees, where his heart once resided, still hold a flicker of hope.

The star closer, however, has the luxury of options. The 2023 World Series winner’s name is dancing on the lips of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies, who covet his flamethrower right arm. The New York Yankees need depth, not just star power, and their eyes scan the mid-tier starter market, full of familiar names like Hyun-Jin Ryu and James Paxton.

Yet, a niggling concern about Shota Imanaga’s flyball tendencies in the notoriously homer-happy Yankee Stadium lingers, casting a shadow of doubt. Perhaps it will turn out to be Jordan Montgomery’s shadow if things don’t fall into place.

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Free agency is a game of musical chairs, with melodies of ambition and opportunity playing in every stadium. As the notes play on, Jordan Montgomery’s return to Texas seems increasingly likely, with the sun in Arlington shining a little brighter with each passing day. Especially because Monty seemingly revealed a similar intention to an industry insider!

How does a possible Rangers reunion look from Monty’s side?

The Lone Star State might hold the key to Montgomery’s future. Although the Bronx yearns for his southpaw dominance, whispers say his heart remains in Texas. Sources close to the pitcher reveal a preference for a Lone Star homecoming, fueled by the echoes of 2023’s World Series victory and the bonds forged in championship fire.

“Montgomery’s first choice is the Rangers. He loves Texas,” an insider confided in Randy Miller of NJ.com. “That’s really where he wants to go.” Can Arlington’s siren song overpower New York’s efforts? Only time will tell if Montgomery chooses familiar glory over pinstriped promises, rewriting not just his contract but also the narrative of his next chapter.

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