Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick didn't hesitate in making the “terrible decision” to sign Jordan Montgomery before the 2024 season.
Montgomery, who played in 25 games with Arizona and posted a 6.23 ERA, signed with the Diamondbacks just before season opener, making it one of the worst free agent signings of the offseason.
“Let me say this in the best way possible: If you want to blame someone for Jordan Montgomery being a Diamondback, you're talking to a man to blame,” Kendrick said. said on the program. Monday's Burns & Gumbo Show. “Because I brought it. [the front office’s] Note. I pushed it. they agreed to it.
“That wasn't in our game plan. You know when he signed, it was right at the end of spring training. It was a terrible decision to invest the money. From a talent standpoint, it was the biggest mistake of the season. And I was the culprit.”
The former Yankees southpaw was one of four star-level Scott Boras clients (known as the Boras Four) signed late last offseason to deals believed to be below market value.
Montgomery, who had a dominant performance in the 2023 World Series with the Rangers, had to wait until two days before Opening Day to sign a one-year, $25 million contract with the Diamondbacks.
Montgomery pitched well enough to trigger his one-year, $22.5 million player option in 2025, which he is expected to pick up after the disastrous 2024 season.
A few weeks later, Montgomery fired Boras, later claiming that the super agent had “dismantled” his free agency process.
The Diamondbacks (89-73) fell one win short of making the postseason after the Mets and Braves split a doubleheader on Monday to play until October.
