Jordan Montgomery is off the board, as the Arizona Diamondbacks — who are down Eduardo Rodriguez at the moment — have reportedly signed the 2023 World Series champion to a one-year deal. It’s a deal that ends his lengthy time on the market after he helped Texas win their first World Series title.
A Look at Montgomery
It’s been an eventful past two years for Jordan Montgomery, a reliable lefty who will now join his fifth team since the start of 2022.
Montgomery started last season with St. Louis and was the Cardinals’ best starter before a trade that sent him to Texas. The Rangers sought pitching after an injury to Jacob deGrom and questions about their pitching depth — and Montgomery delivered. The 31-year-old struck out 58 over 67.2 IP in the regular season with Texas.
And in the postseason, Montgomery didn’t dominate at times, including in the World Series against Arizona when he failed to strike out a batter over six innings in Game 2.
However, Montgomery was sensational against the Rays in the AL Wild Card round when he threw seven scoreless frames and he only gave up two over 11.2 IP in the ALCS.
Montgomery relies heavily on his two-seam fastball that he’ll pound the zone and use against both left and right-handed hitters. It only sits in the low 90s but it’s a pitch that plays well off his changeup, a pitch that doesn’t have elite movement but the speed differential — about 10 MPH from the sinker — makes a difference.
The lefty can also change a sneaky good curveball that changes the eye angle of hitters.
Montgomery has consistently ranked above average in chase and walk rates over the years, as well as in the weak contact category.
Per reports, Jordan Montgomery will receive a one-year deal worth $25MM from the Diamondbacks, along with a $25MM max vesting option for 2025. Montgomery’s $20MM option will vest if he reaches 10 starts in 2024, and an extra $2.5MM will be added at 18 and 23 starts, respectively.
Montgomery will also receive an opt-out provided he makes 10 starts.
Analysis
The move ends a lengthy stint in free agency for Montgomery, who was reportedly hoping to get a deal that exceeded Aaron Nola‘s seven-year extension received in November. Although Montgomery’s $25MM AAV is larger than Nola’s ($24,571,429) for 2024, the total value is significantly lower.
But in a sense, it makes sense. Despite what Montgomery did in the postseason last fall, the new Diamondbacks lefty doesn’t rack up strikeouts and lives primarily off of filling the zone with his sinker, jamming hitters, and changing speeds. While he does that effectively, that profile doesn’t often translate to large contracts.
Looking at top average annual values entering 2024, Montgomery — who stands at #11 — is an outlier among the top 15, as many of the names around him are power pitchers who rack up strikeouts, have plus fastballs, and at least one plus breaking ball.
As for the Diamondbacks, Montgomery couldn’t have come at a better time, even though the lefty — who was been throwing live batting practice sessions — likely won’t be ready for the team’s first run of their rotation. Eduardo Rodriguez will start the year on the IL with a lat strain, leaving the D-Backs rotation down a key piece.
Arizona still has a strong trio atop with Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Brandon Pfaadt. But now, the D-Backs have an arm that’s proven to perform in key situations.