Montgomery signed a one-year deal with the Diamondbacks after helping lead the Texas Rangers to the World Series in 2023. Earlier this month he exercised a $22.5 million vesting player option for the 2025 season.
Passan described Montgomery as “near the top of the list of players likeliest to get dealt” after he fell out of the Diamondbacks rotation in late August. He finished the season with a 6.23 ERA through 25 appearances and 117.0 innings pitched.
Montgomery had recorded a 3.48 ERA over three prior seasons split between the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals and Rangers.
He did not sign with the Diamondbacks until March 29, leading him to miss spring training. The pitcher acknowledged early in the 2024 season that absence made it difficult for him to find a rhythm with his new team.
Montgomery’s struggles continued as he logged a 6.25 ERA through his first 18 starts heading into an Aug. 21 start against the Miami Marlins. Facing a chance to pitch for his place in the rotation, Montgomery allowed six earned runs in 5.2 innings against a weak Marlins offense.
That start, combined with several strong performances from Ryne Nelson, was enough for the Diamondbacks to shift Montgomery to the bullpen two days later in what Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo called an “agonizing” decision.
After the conclusion of the season, Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick was harshly critical of the offseason signing of Montgomery, telling Arizona Sports it was “a horrible decision to have invested that money in a guy that performed as poorly as he did.”
“It’s our biggest mistake this season from a talent standpoint, and I’m the perpetrator of that,” Kendrick said in October.
Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said earlier this month that he had met with Montgomery following Kendrick’s comments, and expressed appreciation for Montgomery being “accountable” for his struggles in 2024.
Although Hazen did not shut the door on the possibility of Montgomery returning, the Diamondbacks have enough starting depth to look to move on from the struggling left-hander. As noted by the Associated Press’ David Brandt, Arizona could be returning Nelson alongside other starters including Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt and Zac Gallen.
Hazen told reporters in August that the size of Montgomery’s contract had not factored into the team’s decision to remove him from the starting rotation, and that the D-backs would “deal with anything we have to” in order to have a better chance to win, per the Arizona Republic‘s Nick Piecoro.
The Diamondbacks might have to continue embracing that attitude if they are considering paying part of Montgomery’s salary for him to play somewhere else next season.
