AP source: Diamondbacks add LHP Montgomery on $25M, 1-year deal
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 the left-hander 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.
ESPN first reported that Montgomery and the D-backs had agreed to a deal.
Montgomery, who turned 31 in December, went into free agency for the first time as a World Series champion. The 6-foot-6 lefty played a significant role in Texas’ first title after being traded at the deadline for the second year in a row.
After going 4-2 with a 2.79 ERA in 11 starts for the Rangers down the stretch, Montgomery was 3-1 with a 2.90 ERA in six postseason games. He 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.
ROCKIES: Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar and the Colorado Rockies finalized a $63.5 million, seven-year contract on Tuesday, a deal that includes a team option
for 2031 that if exercised would boost the agreement to $84 million over eight seasons.
Tovar’s deal supersedes a one-year contract agreed to Feb. 29 that called for a $745,000 salary while in the major leagues and $361,000 while in the minors.
“He has already proven he is one of the best shortstops in baseball, and we see him as a cornerstone of this franchise for years to come,” Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt said in a statement.
Tovar, a Venezuelan native, made his big league debut on Sept. 22, 2022, and last year became the youngest Rockies player to start on opening day at 21 years, 240 days. He hit .253 with 15 homers, 73 RBIs and 11 stolen bases last season. He had 166 strikeouts and 25 walks. His .988 fielding percentage set a record for rookie shortstop, topping
.987 by the Rockies’ Troy Tulowitzki in 2007.
DODGERS-ATHLETICS TRADE: Lefthander T.J. McFarland was acquired by the Oakland Athletics from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday for cash and was added to the 40-man roster.
The 34-year-old agreed to a minor league contract with the Dodgers on Jan. 26 and had a 1.35 ERA in seven spring training games.
He made three relief appearances last year with the New York Mets, going 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA. McFarland was 5-2 with a 2.30 ERA in 44 relief appearances at Triple-A with Baltimore’s Norfolk farm team and the Mets’ Syracuse affiliate.
McFarland is 24-16 with a 4.14 ERA in parts of 11 seasons with Baltimore (201316), Arizona (2017-19), Oakland (2020), St. Louis (2021-22) and the Mets.