There isn't a lot of room to maneuver in the Yankees' starting rotation.

Their offseason was highlighted by the addition of Gerrit Cole to a monster contract and Cole joined the likes of Luis Severino, James Paxton and Masahiro Tanaka.

But that's not discouraging Jordan Montgomery.

Montgomery, who missed over a year due to Tommy John surgery, says he's going to enter the Spring Training with the hopes of grabbing that fifth and final spot in New York's starting rotation.

"I'm treating this year like 2017, really fighting for a spot," Montgomery told MLB Radio. "I've been out for so long that I don't really think I'm guaranteed anything. Been working hard, kind just having the mentality that I have to go out there and win it back. Kind of fight for it and earn it."

"Just doing everything I can to show up in the spring prepared. Strong and as ready as I can be," Montgomery added.

Montgomery, 27, was one of nine Yankees players, along with Paxton, Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and others, who signed a one-year contract with the team on Friday, avoiding salary arbitration. The 2017 season was the year he broke into the majors with the Yankees before the former fourth-round pick had injury derail him.

It's hard to predict what Montgomery could bring to the Yankees in 2020. The favorite to win the Yanks' final rotation spot is J.A. Happ, but realistically, only the top four are set in stone, so there could be a small opening for Montgomery. The player not in the fifth spot could also see a slot in the team's bullpen to start the season, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Domingo German.

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