The Arizona Diamondbacks’ season ended on Monday, giving them a chance to reflect. Team owner Ken Kendrick didn’t like what he saw.
In an interview with the Burns & Gumbo Show, Kendrick took full responsibility for what he called the team’s biggest mistake last offseason: signing Jordan Montgomery. He said he pushed the front office to sign a left-handed player, calling it a “terrible decision.”
“Let me say it the best way I can: If anyone wants to blame someone for Jordan Montgomery being a Diamondback, you are talking to someone to blame, because I I brought it to their attention, and they agreed to it.
“That wasn’t in our game plan. He was signed toward the end of spring training, and in hindsight, we invested that money in a player who performed as poorly as he did. It was a terrible decision. From a talent standpoint, this was the biggest mistake of the season, and I was the culprit.”
Kendrick is less dramatic there. Montgomery was really bad.
After the best season of his career, in which he was a postseason hero for the World Series champion Texas Rangers, Montgomery and agent Scott Boras persisted in pursuing a nine-figure contract. In the end, he had to wait until March 27th to sign a one-year, $25 million contract with Arizona State, after all other suitors had passed. Montgomery fired Boras a few weeks later.
That offseason of disaster led to a season of disaster, even if it seemed appropriate at the time. The D-backs were able to prove his talent after playing against Montgomery in the World Series, but the player they acquired was not. Montgomery’s 6.23 ERA was the worst of any pitcher with at least 100 innings pitched in MLB this season. In August, he was demoted to the bullpen.
The D-backs finished the season with a record of 89 wins and 73 losses, losing a playoff spot to the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets in a tiebreaker. With one more win, they can advance to the postseason.
Baseball Reference’s “wins above replacement” calculation puts Montgomery at -1.4.
Jordan Montgomery has been a disaster for the Diamondbacks after a rough offseason. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
And to add to the disaster, Montgomery’s time with the D-backs is likely not over. Due to contractual incentives, Montgomery’s contract includes a $22.5 million player option for next season, which Montgomery is likely to exercise, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
Kendrick’s willingness to waive a player who is likely still under contract with the team for next season could be a sign that the D-backs are looking for some way to get him off the books.
