Cora: Red Sox met with Montgomery

The Boston Red Sox and left-hander Jordan Montgomery met over Zoom during the weekend before spring training started, manager Alex Cora confirmed Monday, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com.

Landing Montgomery would represent a big upgrade for a rotation that's projected to feature Lucas Giolito, Nick Pivetta, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, and Tanner Houck to begin the season.

"We're working hard towards that," Cora added when asked about improving the team's starting pitching, per Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe. "If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. But we've been working hard the whole offseason. It's not a lack of trying, I'm telling you. A lot of meetings; a lot of conversations."

Montgomery, who would instantly become Boston's No. 1 starter, authored a 3.20 ERA with 1.19 WHIP and 166 strikeouts over a combined 188 2/3 innings (32 starts) between the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers in 2023. He also helped the Rangers win their first World Series, surrendering only 10 earned runs over 31 innings in the postseason.

Red Sox veterans Rafael Devers and Kenley Jansen have urged the club to add more talent to the team's roster before Opening Day. In particular, Devers said the front office knows "what we need."

Boston's rotation finished 10th in the American League in fWAR last season en route to missing the playoffs for a third time in the last four years.