At last, the Jordan Montgomery free agent situation has come to an end.
As per several reports, the left-handed pitcher has agreed to a one-year, $25 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The deal also includes a player option for a second year, which would be worth another $25 million if activated.
Jeff Passan of ESPN was the first to report the signing.
BREAKING: Left-handed starter Jordan Montgomery and the Arizona Diamondbacks are in agreement on a free agent deal, pending physical, a source tells ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 27, 2024
Before the offseason, Montgomery was considered one of the top free agent starting pitchers available, and it was widely expected that he would secure a lucrative long-term deal. The 31-year-old had an outstanding season, recording a 3.20 ERA over 188.2 innings split between the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers, and played a crucial role in leading the Rangers to their first World Series championship in franchise history.
Despite his impressive 2023 season and a track record that includes three straight seasons with 30 or more starts, Montgomery’s market never fully materialized. He was one of four prominent free agents, all represented by agent Scott Boras, who remained unsigned well into the spring. All four ended up accepting short-term deals that will allow them to re-enter the free agent market soon.
His decision to sign with Arizona should also bring some closure to the Red Sox's offseason.
Montgomery was widely seen as a natural fit for Boston from the start. He was a proven workhorse who could provide much-needed stability to the Red Sox rotation, and he was also a proven performer in championships, the kind of player who could help lift a club that has struggled in recent years.
Despite seeming like a good match, the Red Sox and Montgomery were unable to come to an agreement. Now, he will strengthen a Diamondbacks rotation that is expected to be among the best in the game, alongside Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Brandon Pfaadt, and eventually Eduardo Rodriguez, who was also added to the team this winter but will start the season on the injured list.
The Red Sox are instead relying on a mostly homegrown group that includes Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta, Kutter Crawford, Garrett Whitlock, and Tanner Houck, along with newcomer Lucas Giolito, who was initially expected to play a role before suffering a season-ending elbow injury.
