Diamondbacks owner rips free agent signing of Jordan Montgomery

May 25, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Jordan Montgomery (52) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick is taking responsibility after his team missed out on the playoffs.

The Diamondbacks finished 89-73 this season but lost a tiebreaker with the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves, who both finished with the same record and qualified for the postseason.

Late Monday, Kendrick joined “The Burns & Gambo Show” on Arizona Sports radio, and the Diamondbacks owner made waves with his comments about Jordan Montgomery.

Host John Gambadoro identified the Montgomery signing as a move that hurt the team. Kendrick agreed and took the blame for the move, saying he pushed it on his baseball people.

“Let me say it the best way I can say it. If anyone wants to blame anyone for Jordan Montgomery being a Diamondback, you’re talking to the guy that should be blamed,” Kendrick said. “Because I brought it to their attention. I pushed for it. They agreed to it. It wasn’t in our game plan. … and looking back, a horrible decision to have invested that money in a guy that performed as poorly as he did.

“It’s our biggest mistake this season from a talent standpoint, and I’m the perpetrator of that.”

Montgomery was one of Scott Boras’ clients who went unsigned until spring training after his monetary demands scared off potential teams. The southpaw pitcher eventually signed a 1-year, $25 million deal on March 26, near the start of the regular season. Montgomery never recovered from his late start and went 8-7 with a 6.23 ERA over 117 innings. He was demoted to the bullpen during the season. Montgomery eventually fired Boras after being upset with how his free agency went.

Montgomery can return to the Diamondbacks for $22.5 million in 2025. But the comments from Kendrick may make him reconsider his position.

"If anyone wants to blame anyone for Jordan Montgomery being a Diamondback, you're talking to the guy that should be blamed."

D-backs managing general partner Ken Kendrick on the signing of Montgomery in the offseason.

Full interview: https://t.co/c9zHhCcebT pic.twitter.com/4wfNmwihSX

— The Burns & Gambo Show (@BurnsAndGambo) October 1, 2024