Rangers Sign LHP Jordan Montgomery to One-Year Major League Contract
Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers today announced that the club has signed left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery (#52) to a one-year Major League contract for the 2026 season. To make room for Montgomery on the club’s 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Zak Kent has been designated for assignment.
Montgomery, 33, spent the 2025 season with the Arizona and Milwaukee organizations but did not pitch while recovering from 'Tommy John' ligament replacement surgery, which was performed by Rangers team physician Keith Meister on March 28, 2025. The left-hander made two Cactus League appearances (one start) for the Diamondbacks last spring before the injury, then was traded on July 31, 2025, with RHP Shelby Miller, to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for future considerations.
An 8-year MLB veteran, Montgomery has gone 46-41 with a 4.03 ERA (390 ER/872.0 IP), 3.85 FIP, 1.268 WHIP, 251 walks, and 788 strikeouts in 166 career games/161 starts for New York-AL (2017-22), St. Louis (2022-23), Texas (2023), and Arizona (2024). The Sumter, S.C. native and University of South Carolina product was originally selected by the Yankees in the 4th round of the 2014 MLB Draft and finished 6th in A.L. Rookie of the Year voting during his 2017 debut campaign.
This marks Montgomery’s second stint with Texas, as he was acquired from St. Louis in a 5-player trade on July 30, 2023, and went 4-2 with a 2.79 ERA (21 ER/67.2 IP) over 11 starts for the Rangers from August-September 2023. He posted a 2.90 ERA (10 ER/31.0 IP) in 6 playoff appearances/5 starts on Texas's run to its first World Series title, winning A.L. Wild Card Series Game 1 at Tampa Bay and A.L. Championship Series Games 1 and 7 at Houston.
Among left-handed pitchers with 800.0 or more innings since 2017, Montgomery ranks highly in FIP (7th), home runs per 9.0 innings (8th, 1.07), walks per 9.0 innings (8th, 2.59), strikeouts per walk (8th, 3.14), ERA (9th), and ERA+ (10th, 106). He made 125 starts from 2020-24, 3rd-most among southpaws during that span behind only Patrick Corbin (137) and Tyler Anderson (126).
Kent, 27, was acquired by Texas via waiver claim from St. Louis on January 9. He spent the 2025 season with the Cleveland organization, making his Major League debut across 12 relief appearances for the Guardians. Kent was originally selected by Texas in the 9th round of the 2019 MLB Draft from Virginia Military Institute. Texas has seven days to trade, release, or outright Kent to the minor leagues.
With today’s transactions, the Rangers remain at the 40-man limit on the club’s Major League roster and have 65 players in Major League Spring Training camp; a full 40-man roster and 25 non-roster invitees.
– RANGERS –