The defending National League Champion Arizona Diamondbacks had a sneaky good offseason after their surprise run in 2023.
That included fortifying one of MLB’s best rotations with the free agent signing of veteran Eduardo Rodriguez during the winter.
Apparently, the Diamondbacks are not done there.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Arizona has added the top remaining MLB free agent on the market in that of starter Jordan Montgomery. Other reports suggest that it’s a one-year, $25 million contract with a vesting option for the 2025 season.
This comes pretty much out of nowhere. Montgomery, 31, had primarily been linked to his former New York Yankees team on the open market. He was also said to be seeking a deal similar to the seven-year, $172 million contract Aaron Nola signed with the Philadelphia Phillies during the winter. It was not to be.
Related: Arizona Diamondbacks 2024 MLB preview
Jordan Montgomery gives Arizona Diamondbacks one of MLB’s best rotations
Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly and the aforementioned Rodriguez were set to lead the D’Backs rotation in 2024. That was already one of the top trios in the game. In particular, Gallen posted a 17-9 record with a 3.47 ERA and 1.12 WHIP a season ago.
Montgomery gives the Arizona rotation even more depth heading into Opening Day. He was darn good in helping lead the Texas Rangers to the World Series title after being acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals last season.
- Jordan Montgomery stats (2023): 10-11 record, 3.20 ERA, 1.19 WHIP
That 1.19 WHIP represented Montgomery’s second-best number since he broke into the bigs with the New York Yankees back in 2017.
It really is an arms race in the National League West right now. We already know that the Dodgers did during the winter.
More recently, the San Francisco Giants added reigning National League Cy Young winner Blake Snell while the San Diego Padres acquired Dylan Cease in a blockbuster trade with the Chicago White Sox.
Arizona is attempting to keep up here.