The proprietor of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Ken Kendrick, acknowledged that he interfered in the team’s roster assembly last offseason and assumed accountability for the calamitous acquisition of southpaw starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery.
Montgomery registered a 6.23 ERA in 25 appearances following his entry on a $25 million contract with an opportunity for extension in 2025. Despite being the highest scoring team in MLB for the season, the Diamondbacks failed to reach the playoffs on Monday after losing a decisive three-way matchup with the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets.
“If someone should bear the blame for Jordan Montgomery donning the Diamondbacks jersey, you’re looking at the individual who should be held responsible because I was the one who brought it up,” Kendrick expressed during an appearance on Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo.
“I advocated for it, they consented. It wasn’t a part of our original plan when he was signed right at the conclusion of spring training, and in hindsight, [it was] an atrocious decision to have allocated that capital on a player who underperformed gravely. Talent-wise, this is our most significant blunder of the season, and I am the guilty party in that act.”
It is widely recognized in the industry that sports team owners often intervene in the decisions made by the executives they employ for making trades and signings, having confidence that their business expertise can lead to successful sports transactions. However, it is uncommon for top executives to publicly admit to their errors. In many cases, it is the general managers who bear the responsibility, even if they protested against catastrophic deals in private.
Kendrick may have acted too quickly after Arizona’s advancement to the World Series last season. Montgomery had maintained a 3.48 ERA from 2021 to 2023, and with the Diamondbacks in pursuit of pitching reinforcements to bolster their chances for another deep postseason run, they extended one of their most lucrative yearly contracts in history to the left-hander.
Montgomery was one of several free agents under the representation of Scott Boras last offseason who did not ink a deal until after spring training had begun. He put pen to paper with the Diamondbacks on March 29, just a day prior to the initiation of Arizona’s season, and did not make his first appearance for the team until April 19 due to a delayed preparation period. Mid-April saw Montgomery parting ways with Boras as his agent.
In the wake of Kendrick’s declarations on Monday, general manager Mike Hazen shared the blame for the ill-fated signing of Montgomery, referring to it as a “collective decision.” He went on to express his belief that Montgomery would show improvement in 2025—effectively confirming the player’s intention to exercise his option, valued at $25 million.
“Ideas emerge from various quarters, and it ultimately falls on me to reject many propositions or approve them,” Hazen conveyed to the press at a briefing. “[Kendrick] sometimes puts forth notions and alternatives to me. … We deliberate over numerous ideas, but ultimately, I am responsible for making choices for this establishment.”
Kendrick, who is 81 years old, has been a member of the Diamondbacks’ ownership consortium since even before the team’s debut in MLB in 1998.
Image Source: Jordan Montgomery @ Instagram
