Do or refuse sport? Predictions for 19 MLB players with a contract option through 2025 | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Option: Montgomery can forego $22.5 million in 2025

Forecast: Montgomery opts for $22.5 million in 2025

After helping the Texas Rangers defeat the Diamondbacks in the 2023 World Series, Jordan Montgomery remained on the free agent market longer than expected.

The 31-year-old ultimately settled for a one-year, $25 million contract with the Diamondbacks that included the possibility of forfeiting $22.5 million through 2025 if he made 10 starts in 2024.

As it turns out, no one is happy with this arrangement.

Montgomery fired Boras as his agent, later saying, “Obviously Boras kind of butchered it.”

However, the veteran left-hander was in poor condition when he arrived in Arizona and had a disastrous season for the Snakes, posting a 6.23 ERA over 117 innings, some of which came out of the bullpen.

“If anyone wants to blame anyone for Jordan Montgomery being a Diamondback, you talk to the guy you should blame,” Kendrick said Burns & Gambo. “Because I brought it to the attention of the front office. In hindsight, investing that money in a guy who has performed so poorly is a terrible decision. From a talent perspective, this is our biggest mistake.

If Kendrick made those comments with the intention of making things so untenable for Montgomery that he declines his $22.5 million option for 2025, then don't count on it.

However, it looks like Montgomery could become a trade candidate once he decides to do so, especially if Arizona is willing to pay back some of his salary in 2025.