Mark

Montgomery

Neither had a shot at an Opening Day roster spot, but Montgomery has a shot to crack the big league bullpen at some point this season. One the better relief prospects in the game, the righty has posted a 1.65 ERA with 150 strikeouts over his first 92 2/3 pro innings.

The deal happened shortly after he was released by the Yankees just before Opening Day. Montgomery was once thought of as a potential closer of the future in New York but has battled control issues. Still, he has a career 11.9 K/9 rate in the minors and a 16/1 K/BB ratio over his first 10 1/3 relief innings this season at Triple-A Memphis. The 26-year-old is a nice depth addition for St. Louis.

It wasn’t long ago that Montgomery looked like a potential future closer candidate for the Yankees. But, he’s 26 now and has yet to debut in the majors even though he struck out 63 over 45 2/3 innings between Double- and Triple-A last season. Some club figures to scoop Montgomery up quickly.

Montgomery allowed a hit and walk while striking out two batters en route to a two-inning save. The 23-year-old was considered a potential ninth-inning replacement for Mariano Rivera after saving 15 games with a 1.54 ERA and 99/22 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 64.1 innings in 2012. However, he dealt with an injury for part of the 2013 season and ultimately took a step backwards at Triple-A, posting a 3.38 ERA and 59/25 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 45 1/3 frames. So long as he can stay healthy this year, Montgomery could emerge as a late-inning weapon out of the Yankees’ bullpen by season’s end.

Montgomery was released by the Tigers earlier this month after posting a 1.98 ERA and 17/8 K/BB ratio over 13 2/3 innings at Triple-A Toledo. Per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, Montgomery is dealing with a non-UCL elbow injury and might not pitch again this season, but it’s a two-year deal so the move is more geared toward 2019.

The former Yankees prospect had a nice season at Triple-A in the Cardinals’ organization in 2017, holding a 2.43 ERA and 73/15 K/BB ratio over 66 2/3 innings. Montgomery will try to win a bullpen spot in spring training.