Report: D-Backs, Montgomery agree to 1-year, $25M deal
The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a one-year, $25-million deal with free-agent left-hander Jordan Montgomery, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Montgomery's deal, which is pending a physical, pays him $25 million in 2024 and includes an opt-out and vesting player option for 2025 that pays him $20 million next season if he makes 10 starts, $22.5 million if he reaches 18 starts, and $25 million at 23 starts, Passan adds.
Montgomery isn't expected to be included on the D-Backs' Opening Day roster and agreed to accept a minor-league assignment to ramp up, a source told The Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro. He won't be eligible to receive a qualifying offer after the season because he isn't beginning the campaign on a big-league roster.
The 31-year-old reportedly sought a lucrative free-agent deal in the neighborhood of seven years and $172 million - like Aaron Nola received from the Philadelphia Phillies last November - after a terrific 2023 season that included 188 2/3 innings pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers.
Montgomery played especially well for the Rangers following a trade deadline deal, authoring a 2.79 ERA and 3.27 FIP in 11 regular-season starts before posting a 2.90 ERA in 31 postseason frames for the World Series champions.
Signing Montgomery caps off an excellent offseason for the NL champion D-Backs. The club added fellow southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez to the rotation, re-signed outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and brought in Eugenio Suárez, Joc Pederson, and Randal Grichuk.
D-Backs 2024 projected rotation at full strength
| PITCHER | THROWS | 2023 ERA |
|---|---|---|
| Zac Gallen | R | 3.47 |
| Jordan Montgomery | L | 3.20 |
| Eduardo Rodriguez | L | 3.30 |
| Merrill Kelly | R | 3.29 |
| Brandon Pfaadt | R | 5.72 |
The Rangers, Boston Red Sox, and New York Yankees also coveted Montgomery this winter.