The Arizona Diamondbacks’ season ended Monday, providing the chance for some self reflection. Group proprietor Ken Kendrick did not like what he noticed.
Throughout an interview with The Burns & Gambo Show, Kendrick took full duty for what he referred to as the staff’s greatest mistake of final offseason: the Jordan Montgomery contract. He mentioned he pushed his entrance workplace to signal the left-hander, which he referred to as a “horrible resolution” in hindsight:
“Let me say it the easiest way I can say it. If anybody desires accountable anybody for Jordan Montgomery being a Diamondback, you’re speaking to the man that must be blamed, as a result of I introduced it to their consideration. I pushed for it. They agreed to it.
“It wasn’t in our sport plan. You recognize when he was signed, proper on the finish of spring coaching, and looking out again, in hindsight, a horrible resolution, to have invested that cash in a man that carried out as poorly as he did. It is our greatest mistake this season from a expertise standpoint, and I’m the perpetrator of that.”
Kendrick is not being overly dramatic there. Montgomery actually was that dangerous.
After a career-best season through which he grew to become a postseason hero for the World Collection champion Texas Rangers, Montgomery and his agent, Scott Boras, held out for a nine-figure deal. They ended up waiting until March 27 to sign a one-year, $25 million deal with Arizona in any case different suitors handed. Montgomery fired Boras a few weeks later.
That catastrophe offseason led right into a catastrophe season, even when it appeared like a pleasant match on the time. The D-Backs may attest to Montgomery’s expertise after going through him within the World Collection, however that is not the man they received. His 6.23 ERA was the worst mark in MLB this season amongst pitchers with no less than 100 innings. He was demoted to the bullpen in August.
The D-backs completed the season with an 89-73 file, dropping a playoff spot by way of tiebreakers to the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets. Had they gained yet one more sport, they’d be enjoying within the postseason.
By Baseball Reference’s calculation of Wins Above Alternative, Montgomery was value -1.4 wins this season.
Including to the catastrophe: Montgomery’s time with the D-backs in all probability is not executed. Due to contract incentives, his deal incorporates a $22.5 million participant choice for subsequent season, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, which Montgomery is more likely to train.
Kendrick’s willingness to blast a participant who will possible be below contract with the staff subsequent season could be a sign that the D-backs can be in search of any technique to transfer him off the books.
