On Friday, the reigning National League champion Arizona Diamondbacks officially signed workhorse left-hander Jordan Montgomery to a one-year contract. The deal is reportedly worth $25 million, and Montgomery will pick up a $20 million player option for 2025 if he makes 10 starts. The 2025 salary can rise to $25 million if he makes 23 starts in 2024.
The D-Backs optioned Montgomery to Triple-A after the signing was made official. He will go to the minors to essentially go through a spring training program and get built up. Montgomery is aiming to join the D-Backs on April 19, per the Arizona Republic.
Montgomery’s free agency lasted longer than I’m sure he would have liked, and the D-Backs really came out of nowhere to sign him. Before signing with Arizona, he was most connected to Boston Red Sox, so much so that he held a Zoom call with Red Sox manager Alex Cora early in spring training. For what it’s worth, Montgomery’s wife, McKenzie, is doing her medical residency in Boston.
As it turns out, the Red Sox never really had much of a chance to sign Montgomery. He preferred not to sign with the Boston because he wants to win, reports the New York Post, and the Red Sox have finished in last place three times…
