SAN ANTONIO — Arizona Diamondbacks normal supervisor Mike Hazen mentioned Wednesday he met with left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery in an effort to maneuver previous crew proprietor Ken Kendrick’s harsh public criticism after the season.
It stays to be seen whether or not Montgomery shall be a part of the membership in 2025, although Hazen mentioned he was open to the chance.
Simply after Opening Day, Montgomery signed a $25 million, one-year deal that included a 2025 participant choice. However he didn’t ship on the excessive price ticket, ending with a 6.23 ERA over 21 begins and 117 innings. He was finally demoted to the bullpen, the place he made 4 appearances.
Montgomery, 31, exercised his $22.5 million choice to stick with the D-backs earlier this week.
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“I’ll say that he was extraordinarily accountable to the season he had, and I respect that,” Hazen mentioned on the normal managers conferences. “I attempted to be accountable towards a number of the areas we may have possibly helped him slightly higher. The dynamic was the dynamic, it’s what it’s.”
Montgomery’s struggles have been a part of the explanation the D-backs simply missed the playoffs after reaching the World Sequence in 2023. Arizona completed in a three-way tie with the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets for the ultimate two Nationwide League wild playing cards however missed out on October as a result of the Braves and Mets each gained the regular-season sequence over the D-backs.
Kendrick took duty for Montgomery’s signing throughout a radio interview with Arizona Sports activities 98.7 FM after the season, saying it was his suggestion.
“Trying again, in hindsight, a horrible determination to speculate that cash in a man who carried out as poorly as he did,” Kendrick mentioned. “It is our largest mistake this season from a expertise standpoint. And I am the perpetrator of that.”
Arizona may have six skilled starters going into spring coaching, together with Montgomery, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt and Ryne Nelson.
“I really feel like we’re in a powerful place from a beginning pitching standpoint,” Hazen mentioned. “I might like to remain there, however we’ll see what occurs as we undergo the offseason.”
Hazen did say different golf equipment have been inquiring concerning the availability of a number of Arizona pitchers.
“We’re speaking to groups about beginning pitchers due to the truth that we now have six,” Hazen mentioned. “So groups are coming at us for gamers — beginning pitchers particularly.”
Montgomery had a protracted monitor report as a profitable massive league starter earlier than this previous season’s meltdown. He has a 46-41 profession report with a 4.03 ERA over eight seasons.
