The Arizona Diamondbacks and big-ticket free agent beginning pitcher Jordan Montgomery agreed to phrases on a contract, in keeping with a number of stories on Tuesday.
The deal is reportedly price $25 million for 2024 with a vesting choice for 2025. ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported the settlement.
USA At this time’s Bob Nightengale reported Montgomery would make $20 million in 2025 for 10 begins this yr, a further $2.5 million for 18 begins and $2.5 million extra for 23 begins.
Montgomery, a 31-year-old left-hander, can even choose out after one yr.
The sturdy southpaw has began a minimum of 30 video games in every of the previous three seasons, spending 2023 with the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers.
Montgomery began Recreation 2 of the World Sequence for the Rangers in opposition to the Diamondbacks, permitting 4 runs in six innings in Texas’ lone defeat of the Fall Basic. The veteran was stellar within the American League Championship Sequence with 14 innings pitched and two earned runs to assist the Rangers overcome the defending champion Houston Astros.
Montgomery debuted in 2017 with the New York Yankees and has a profession 3.68 ERA that drops to 2.63 within the playoffs.
He isn’t a giant strikeout man at 21.4% final yr, however he’s stored the walks down and induced weak contact all through his profession. Arizona had one in every of MLB’s finest defenses final yr that he may benefit from this season.
Montgomery leans on his sinker, changeup and curveball, however he additionally deploys a four-seamer and a cutter. His four-seamer and sinker averaged 93.3 mph final yr.
With the addition of Jordan Montgomery, the @DBacks now have three of final yr’s prime 15 pitchers in wins above substitute.#MLB | #DBacks pic.twitter.com/bkaUEOCO3u
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) March 27, 2024
The Diamondbacks enter the yr with a rotation spearheaded by Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, however free agent acquisition Eduardo Rodriguez is ready to go on the injured listing with a lat pressure.
That left three youthful starters behind Gallen and Kelly: Tommy Henry, Brandon Pfaadt and Ryne Nelson.
Montgomery missed all of spring coaching, so the query might be what his ramp-up timetable will appear to be, however he provides veteran depth to a membership battling in one of many hardest divisions in baseball.
The D-backs continued to blow previous their franchise document for payroll with Montgomery becoming a member of Rodriguez and outfielders Joc Pederson and Randal Grichuk as outdoors free brokers to signal with Arizona this offseason.
Montgomery is one in every of Scott Boras’ famous purchasers who signed a short-term deal late within the offseason and was vulnerable to not having a house by Opening Day on Thursday. Others embody Blake Snell, Matt Chapman and J.D. Martinez.