The Boston Red Sox dodged a bullet by whiffing on Jordan Montgomery last offseason. There has been mixed messaging about whether or not the Sox made him an offer, but they lucked out by missing, regardless.
Montgomery pitched to a frightening 6.23 ERA in 25 appearances, 21 starts. He collected 83 strikeouts and 44 walks over 117 innings — hardly worth the $25 million the Diamondbacks signed him for, let alone the Carlos Rodón special he sought before that.
Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick let Montgomery have it after his squad was eliminated from playoff contention when the Braves and Mets split their weird, season-ending doubleheader. Kendrick didn't pull any punches in his statement on the pitcher.
"Looking back, in hindsight, a horrible decision to have invested that money in a guy that performed as poorly as he did. It was or biggest mistake this season from a talent standpoint. And I'm the perpetrator of that,'' Kendrick said.
Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick gives harsh criticism of Jordan Montgomery's rough season
"If anyone wants to blame anyone for Jordan Montgomery being a Diamondback, you're talking to the guy that should be blamed."
— The Burns & Gambo Show (@BurnsAndGambo) October 1, 2024
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
That is a rare and brutal statement from an owner about a player. It's a terrible look for a team hoping to attract more free agents in just a few months.
Montgomery didn't live up to his contract this season, but placing any blame for missing the postseason on an individual player is ridiculous and unnecessarily harsh. Owners and front office officials are usually kinder in their criticism, but Kendrick unloaded on Montgomery, and it's jarring to hear.
Rumors circulated that the Red Sox made Montgomery an offer before he signed with Arizona last year, and the pitcher later said he would've loved to play in Boston. Soon after he inked his deal with the Diamondbacks, Montgomery fired his agent, Scott Boras, for botching his free agency. Montgomery has an option for a second season built into his contract, and he should accept it to force the Diamondbacks organization to trade him if they dislike him so much.
Red Sox fans haven't had a ton of praise for team owner John Henry lately, but not even he would pull something as rude and shortsighted as Kendrick's comments.