Texas Rangers' Josh Jung breaks his bat on a line drive against the San Diego Padres in the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 30, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
After playing a key role in the first world championship won by the Texas Rangers, Jordan Montgomery expected a big payoff in the free-agent market. It didn’t happen – even after super-agent Scott Boras urged him to hold out for as long as it took to match or top the seven-year, $172 million deal Philadelphia gave older starter Aaron Nola.
In fact, the waiting game cost the 6’6″ left-hander, who eventually inked a one-year, $25 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks after flirting with the Rangers, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and New York Yankees.
The Diamondbacks deal contained a player option worth $20 million if he made 10 starts. Now that he’s done that, however, the pitcher might not exercise the option anyway
At 31, Montgomery is a three-time All-Star with a 42-38 lifetime record and 3.87 earned run average. But he’s struggled this season with Arizona, going 4-4 with a 6.58 ERA. The option jumps to $22.5 million if he reaches 18 starts and $25 million after 23 starts.
With nearly 100 games left on the 2024 schedule, he has ample time to reach the top level – even though he didn’t pitch his first game for the D’backs until April 19 (he opened in the minors to compensate for the missed spring training).
Montgomery held out longer than any other top player in the most recent free agent market. Unless his performance improves, however, he might be better off accepting the option than testing the market again.
See A Total Eclipse Of A Star As Manhattanhenge Returns The Night Sky This Week
The Acolyte Episode 3 Review One Of The Most Disappointing Star Wars Episodes Ever Made
Apple’s New Security Update Exposes Samsung’s Biggest AI Problem
Not only is his velocity down but so are his strikeout numbers. Going in the other direction are his walk totals and earned run average.
