D-Backs agree to deal with Montgomery
PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks and pitcher Jordan Montgomery have agreed on a $25 million, one-year contract with a vesting option for 2025, according to a person familiar with the deal.
The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because the agreement was subject to a successful physical.
If Montgomery makes at least 10 starts this season, the option would become guaranteed at $20 million and he also would gain the right to opt out. The option price would escalate to $22.5 million if he makes 18 starts and to $25 million if he makes 23 starts — a figure he has reached in three straight seasons.
Montgomery pitched for Texas against Arizona in the World Series last year, and his addition bulks up the defending National League champions' rotation just days before the regular season begins. He should slide into the No. 3 or No. 4 spot once he's ready for game action, joining Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodríguez, who signed an $80 million, four-year contract with the Diamondbacks earlier in the offseason.
Montgomery, who turned 31 in December, went into free agency for the first time as a World Series champion. The 6foot-6 lefty played a significant role in Texas' first title after being traded at the deadline for the second year in a row.
Montgomery is 38-34 with a 3.68 ERA in 140 starts and one relief appearance with the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals and Rangers.
Ohtani has to move on without his ‘buffer’
Shohei Ohtani's life will be fundamentally different in the coming weeks and months without Ippei Mizuhara, his interpreter and constant companion ever since he moved to the majors from Japan.
Although the changes caused by Mizuhara's firing amid allegations of gambling and theft could be jarring to a baseball star who thrives on routine, the Los Angeles Dodgers are optimistic the upheaval could have a positive impact on Ohtani's connection with his teammates and the game.
“Actually, I would argue that it's going to help relations internally,” manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday before the Dodgers' final exhibition game in Anaheim. “Because there's no longer a buffer. I think that I've already seen it the last couple of days. I think Shohei has been even more engaging with his teammates, and I think there's only upside with that.”
Ohtani spent thousands of hours at Angel Stadium over the previous six years with Mizuhara, who helped Ohtani to communicate with the Angels' coaches and players on everything from strategic advice and rehabilitation plans to video game trashtalk. Roberts and the Dodgers hired Mizuhara after signing Ohtani, and Roberts acknowledged Tuesday it was sometimes “difficult” to communicate with Ohtani with everything filtered through Mizuhara.
The Angels welcomed back Ohtani for the exhibition with a tribute video before he batted in the first inning.
Smith, Dodgers agree to 10-year, 140M deal
Catcher Will Smith and the Dodgers agreed to a $140 million, 10-year contract Wednesday, raising the team's spending to nearly $1.4 billion for five key players since December.
Smith's deal supersedes an $8.85 million, one-year agreement reached in January.
The 28-year-old was a firsttime All-Star last year, when he hit .261 with 19 homers and 76 RBIs.
Smith has a .263 average with 91 homers and 308 RBIs in six seasons with the Dodgers. He would have been eligible for free agency after the 2025 season.
Los Angeles has committed $1,365,687,500 to two-way star Shohei Ohtani ($700 million for 10 years), right-handers Yoshinobu Yamamoto ($325 million for 12 years) and Tyler Glasnow ($136,562,500 for five years), outfielder Teoscar Hernández ($23.5 million for one year) and Smith.
Yankees acquire Berti to help at third base
Jon Berti could be at third base for the banged-up Yankees in their opener against Houston on Thursday after New York agreed to acquire the infielder as part of a three-team trade with Miami and Tampa Bay.
New York agreed to send catcher Ben Rortvedt to the Rays and minor league outfielder Juan Cruz to the Marlins, while outfielder Shane Sasaki would move from the Rays to Marlins.
Berti could fill in at third base while DJ LeMahieu is on the injured list with a bone bruise in his right foot. The former batting champion has been sidelined since fouling a ball off his foot on March 16 and is to undergo more testing Friday.
In addition, the Yankees said on March 9 that infielder Oswald Peraza wouldn't throw for six to eight weeks because of a strained right shoulder.
Odds and ends
Openers on Thursday in New York between the Mets and Brewers and in Philadelphia between the Phillies and Braves were postponed a day until Friday because of rainy forecasts in both cities. … David Rubenstein's purchase of the Baltimore Orioles was approved by owners, clearing the way for the Angelos family to finalize the sale after more than three decades running the team. … Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain, who hit .290 last season while finishing fifth in NL Rookie of the Year voting, had surgery on his left shoulder and will be sidelined for an extended period.