The Arizona Diamondbacks needed to address their starting rotation big time after learning that newly signed LHP Eduardo Rodriguez will be missing a period of time with a left lat strain. LHP Jordan Montgomery signed the Dbacks Tuesday night for a one-year $25 million contract with an opt-out after the first season. Mike Hazen and the Dbacks wrap up a stellar offseason with Opening Day just two days away. Along with the Monty signing, the Dbacks have now snagged OF/DH Joc Pederson, 3B Eugenio Suarez (via trade), and OF Randal Grichuk while bringing back key pieces from last year with the likes of OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (three-year $42 million).
Montgomery now joins the team he beat in the World Series last October and finally finds his home for the season after a long offseason of speculation on where he would eventually draw interest. There had been interest in a handful of organizations including the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, and New York Yankees. Yesterday the Dbacks were added as a late surprise “dark horse” which gained some traction, per Jim Bowden, and has now become a reality.
Jordan Montgomery By The Numbers
Montgomery had a rough first half of the season last year with the St. Louis Cardinals going 6-9 in 21 starts with a 3.42 ERA, a 3.73 FIP, a 1.24 WHIP, a 0.9 HR/9, a 2.6 BB/9, and an 8.0 K/9. He was traded to the Texas Rangers, where things turned around for him, making 11 starts, going 4-2 with a 2.79 ERA, a 3.27 FIP, a 1.09 WHIP, a 0.8 HR/9, a 1.7 BB/9, and a 7.7 K/9. In the postseason last year, he made six appearances, five of those as starts, going 3-1 with a 2.90 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 31 innings as the Rangers won the World Series. For his career, he has pitched for the Rangers, Cardinals, and New York Yankees, going 38-34 with a 3.68 ERA, a 3.75 FIP, a 1.20 WHIP, a 1.1 HR/9, a 2.5 BB/9, and an 8.4 K/9.
Wrap Up
The Dbacks starting rotation looks much better now with the addition of another starter with the capability that Montgomery provides on the bump. The Dbacks hope is that he can be ready in a few weeks but will certainly miss a few starts to begin the season. The rotation is set and he will be an intrical piece for Dbacks rotation now joining Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt and Tommy Henry.
