MLB Rumors: Phillies Out on Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery Barring 'Market Collapse'

The Philadelphia Phillies will not pursue free agent starting pitchers Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery, per The Athletic's Matt Gelb.

As the Phillies continue looking to add depth to the starting rotation, Snell and Montgomery won't be on their radar, Gelb says, "barring an unforeseen market collapse."

Last season for the San Diego Padres, Snell started in 32 games and notched a 14-9 record, picking up 234 strikeouts with a 2.25 ERA in 180 innings pitched. Montgomery, who spent last season with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers, had a 10-11 record with a 3.20 ERA and 166 strikeouts in 188.2 innings pitched.

While signing either Snell or Montgomery would help the Phillies tremendously in adding depth to the rotation, Philadelphia already spent $172 million to retain starting pitcher Aaron Nola, giving them less flexibility to sign a new arm.

The Phillies are coming off a 90-72 season that saw them fall just short of reaching a second straight World Series. While they would like to add an arm or two to the rotation this offseason, their starters guided them well last season, posting an MLB-best 17.7 WAR.

The Phillies will have return starters Zach Wheeler, Nola, Ranger Suárez, Taijuan Walker and Christopher Sánchez, giving them some familiar faces on the mound next season.

According to Gelb, the Phillies could hold off on adding a new pitcher until February. Gelb also said Philadelphia is testing out different ideas, like adding a free-agent pitcher in a role that would include both starting a relieving, but the Phillies haven't managed to add a swingman pitcher just yet.

The Phillies could use some depth in their rotation, but if not, they'll count on the talented returners from last season.