DBacks linked to free-agent starter Jordan Montgomery
The Diamondbacks were linked in reports to free-agent left-hander Jordan Montgomery, but multiple sources did not express optimism about the likelihood of the club reaching a deal with Montgomery’s agent, Scott Boras.
Things could change, of course, and with the Diamondbacks’ currently without their top starting pitching acquisition of the winter, left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, who is shut down due to a left lat strain, the team has more of a need than it did a week ago.
General Manager Mike Hazen said he remained engaged in the free-agent market though declined to comment further, citing rules against talking about specific free agents.
Montgomery, 31, had been expected to land a sizeable free-agent deal when the offseason began in November. But he has lingered on the market, outlasting several other late-signing Boras clients, including outfielder Cody Bellinger, third baseman Matt Chapman and left-hander Blake Snell.
Jim Bowden, a former general manager who works for both MLB Network Radio and The Athletic, reported, per a source, that Montgomery had multiple long-term deals on the table, suggesting indirectly the Diamondbacks could be involved. In another post, Bowden wrote, “Don’t sleep on the Diamondbacks on Jordan Montgomery.”
The extent of the Diamondbacks’ involvement is unclear but it is believed they have engaged in conversations with Montgomery’s camp in recent days.
Montgomery posted a 3.20 ERA in 32 starts last season split between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers, whom he helped beat the Diamondbacks in five games in the World Series.
Rodriguez suffered a lat strain in a start against the Cubs on Tuesday night. He will start the season on the injured list, meaning the Diamondbacks will open with three young starters in their rotation, but he is not expected to miss significant time.
Tucker Barnhart appears in line for spot with DBacks
Catcher Jose Herrera’s locker in the big league clubhouse at Salt River Fields had been cleaned out on Sunday morning, an indication that veteran Tucker Barnhart, who is in camp on a minor league deal, had won the Diamondbacks’ backup catcher’s job.
“I haven’t been told anything official,” Barnhart said, “but I see the same thing you guys do.”
Though the club optioned Herrera to Triple-A Reno, manager Torey Lovullo stopped short of calling Barnhart his backup catcher, perhaps because the club still needs to find a way to fit him onto the 40-man roster.
Barnhart will cost the Diamondbacks only the league minimum of $740,000. He is still under contract with the Chicago Cubs, who will pay the remaining portion of his $3.25 million salary. He signed a two-year, $6.5 million deal prior to last season but was released by the Cubs in August.
Barnhart said the chance to play for a winning team was what drew him to the Diamondbacks in December.
“I told these guys when we were talking in the offseason, I want to be in a spot that — I know I can play everyday, but I want to be in a spot that wins,” Barnhart said. “If that means I play one game a year or 161 games, I really don’t care anymore.”
Neither Barnhart nor Herrera swung the bat especially well for the bulk of spring training. Barnhart entered Sunday with a .200/.333/.250 line; Herrera was hitting .238 before collecting three hits on Saturday, raising his average to .320.
DBacks’ backup shortstop battle ongoing
The Diamondbacks reassigned infielder Kevin Newman to minor league camp, further thinning the competition for a bench spot.
With outfielder Randal Grichuk (ankle) expected to open the year on the injured list, outfielder Jake McCarthy seems likely to land a bench spot. Infielder Jace Peterson is also expected to be on the team, General Manager Mike Hazen said last week.
That would seemingly leave infielders Emmanuel Rivera and Blaze Alexander for the final spot. Rivera is out of minor league options, meaning the club would risk losing him if it tried to send him to the minors. Alexander, meanwhile, swung the bat better than almost anyone in camp.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Free-agent lefty Jordan Montgomery has been linked to the Diamondbacks
