MLB Rumors: Jordan Montgomery, Diamondbacks Agree to Contract in Free Agency
Adam WellsMarch 27, 2024
Sam Hodde/Getty Images
After helping the Texas Rangers win the first World Series in franchise history, Jordan Montgomery’s long free agency has finally come to an end.
Per ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Montgomery agreed to a deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported the deal is worth $25 million for one year, though it includes a $25 million vesting option for the 2025 season.
Jon Heyman @JonHeymanMontgomery needs to start 10 games in 2024 for the second year to vest https://t.co/ab1WSAjLFZ
Jon Heyman @JonHeymanMontgomery can opt out of 2025 if he makes 10 starts in 2024.
The 2025 salary vests at $20M with those 10 starts in 2024 and boosts to $22.5M with 18 starts and $25M with 23 starts. 2024 salary is $25M #dbacks
The deal comes after Heyman reported on March 20 that Montgomery and the New York Yankees had been “back in contact.”
This marks the second major addition that Arizona has made to its rotation in free agency. The team previously signed left-hander Eduardo RodrÃguez, who will start the season on the injured list, to a four-year, $80 million contract in December.
Montgomery joined the Rangers in a midseason trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. He had the best stretch of his career after the move with a 2.79 ERA in 11 starts.
The 31-year-old was just as good in the playoffs with a 2.90 ERA in six appearances. He was the Rangers’ Game 1 starter in the AL Wild Card Series against the Tampa Bay Rays and ALCS against the Houston Astros.
In those two games, Montgomery went 13.1 innings and allowed no runs on 11 hits with 11 strikeouts and one walk.
The Rangers were Montgomery’s third different team in the past two seasons. He began his career with the Yankees, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2014 draft.
Montgomery made his MLB debut during the 2017 season. He finished sixth in AL Rookie of the Year voting after posting a 3.88 ERA in 155.1 innings.
Tommy John surgery limited Montgomery to seven starts over the next two seasons. He was back at full strength for the 2020 season that was shortened to 60 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he struggled with a 5.11 ERA in 10 starts.
Montgomery’s career hit its stride starting in 2021 when he made a then-career-high 30 starts. He split the 2022 season between the Yankees and Cardinals, who acquired him prior to the trade deadline.
In 32 starts between the two teams, Montgomery had a 3.48 ERA over 178.1 innings. He’s been one of the most durable pitchers in baseball over the past three seasons.
Montgomery is tied for sixth in starts (94) and 17th in innings pitched (524.1) since the start of 2021. He’s also 17th in FanGraphs wins above replacement (10.2) among all pitchers during that span.
