PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks didn’t believe they were in a lofty enough financial stratosphere to chase a free agent the caliber of left-hander Jordan Montgomery.
A soft market this offseason changed their mind.
Montgomery and the D-backs finalized their $25 million, one-year deal on Friday that includes a vesting option for 2025. The 31-year-old pitched for the Texas Rangers against Arizona in the World Series last year, and his addition bulks up the defending National League champions’ rotation.
“You watch the market evolve, and it moved more slowly than I think any of us would have expected with the top-of-the-line free agents, which he clearly was one,” D-backs owner Ken Kendrick said. “We’re down to the end of spring and he’s still available. We thought it was worth making an effort to approach them, we did, and it worked out for both of us.”
Montgomery is a client of agent Scott Boras, who negotiated several similar short-term deals for his top free agents in recent weeks.
Former MVP Cody Bellinger re-signed with the Cubs on an $80 million, three-year deal in late February. Four-time Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman signed a $54 million, three-year deal with the Giants on March 3. Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell inked a $62 million, two-year deal, also with the Giants, on March 19.
On Friday, it was Montgomery’s turn.
If Montgomery makes at least 10 starts this season, the 2025 vesting option would become guaranteed at $20 million and the left-hander also would gain the right to opt out. The option price would escalate to $22.5 million if he makes 18 starts and to $25 million if he makes 23 starts — a figure he has reached in three straight seasons.
Boras said that Montgomery’s main request was to sign with a contender and he’d take a short-term deal to do it.
The agent attributed the slow pace of free agency to a few factors, including normal market fluctuation and the uncertainty of team revenue from regional sports networks.
“We’ve had a dramatic difference in the competitveness and aggressiveness of owners to win,” Boras said.
Boras’ criticism was not directed at the Diamondbacks, whom he praised after a busy offseason. They signed left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez to an $80 million, four-year deal, brought back All-Star outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on an $42 million, three-year contract and signed Joc Pederson and Randal Grichuk to smaller agreements.