Ex-Yankees pitcher to new team: Extend me now or forget about it until 2024

St. Louis Cardinals left-hander Jordan Montgomery, traded last season by the Yankees, is eligible to become a free agent after this season and said he is open to an extension, but only before Opening Day. Once the season starts, Montgomery said, the Cardinals will have to wait until after the season.

While an extension sometime in the next week is unlikely, the Cardinals might be motivated to keep Montgomery, because — as MLBtraderumors.com points out, “Adam Wainwright will retire after the season while Montgomery, Miles Mikolas and Jack Flaherty are all free agents. Steven Matz is the only established starter that St. Louis controls beyond 2023.”

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Montgomery was swapped for center fielder Harrison Bader in a trade that caused an uproar among Yankees fans. Bader was still on the injury list with plantar fasciitis and Montgomery dominated in his first few starts with St. Louis.

“It’s not something I need to think about,” Montgomery told John Denton of MLB.com. “If it doesn’t get done in spring, we’re not gonna talk about it and we’ll start to focus on the games. … We’ve had all spring (to negotiate). Obviously, if they get to talking, they can (negotiate).

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“I’m just ready to win games and make my 32 starts. It’s something you can’t think about. I’m here and I want to win games for the Cardinals. I’m going to work hard and do my job. It’s out of my control.”

According to MLBtraderumors.com: “Following the trade, Montgomery worked to a sharp 3.11 ERA with an improved 23.9% strikeout rate, a 5.4% walk rate and a 49.7% grounder rate that tops any mark he posted during his time in the Bronx. Montgomery missed nearly the entire 2019 season due to Tommy John surgery but has since returned and reestablished himself as a quality big league hurler. He’s made 62 starts over the past two seasons, recording a 3.65 ERA and identical 3.65 FIP in 335 2/3 innings.”

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