Jordan Montgomery signing earns Arizona Diamondbacks' Ken Kendrick praise, 'much respect'
Arizona Diamondbacks managing general partner Ken Kendrick has often been the target of criticism from fans of the MLB team for what they have perceived as an unwillingness to open up the checkbook in order to improve his team's roster.
Not anymore.
Social media gave Kendrick major props in the aftermath of the news that the Diamondbacks had agreed to a one-year, $25 million deal with free-agent left-hander Jordan Montgomery on Tuesday night.
The Montgomery deal pushes the DBacks' payroll, which was already at a record amount, into the range of $170 million for the upcoming season.
Montgomery had a 3.20 ERA last season with the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers, helping the Rangers beat the Diamondbacks in the 2024 World Series.
More: Jordan Montgomery signing with Arizona Diamondbacks in free agency leaves MLB 'stunned'
Ken Kendrick praised for Diamondbacks' Jordan Montgomery signing:
The World Series champs reportedly were worried about local TV money and balked at re-signing Jordan Montgomery.
Meanwhile the Dbacks haven’t even announced if they are on TV this year and have a roof that won’t close but signed him anyway.
Much respect to Ken Kendrick.— Jody Oehler (@radiojody) March 27, 2024
Ken Kendrick should throw out the first pitch Opening Day and have his moment, all the haters have been silenced 😂😂 https://t.co/pZnreMzxEr
— Goldschmidt Happened (@GoldyHappens) March 27, 2024
Ken Kendrick has beat the cheap owner allegations https://t.co/9YU8MUEY8u
— Goldschmidt Happened (@GoldyHappens) March 27, 2024
Ken Kendrick kept true to his word about spending.
The #Dbacks will enter the regular season with a franchise record $175 million payroll.— Alex D’Agostino (@AlexDagAZ) March 27, 2024
Holy crap. Never did I think Kendrick would spend this much. Can't complain about not spending anymore
— Chris (@OEThunder) March 27, 2024
Who would’ve thought one year ago that Ken Kendrick, of all people, would’ve stolen all Mar Ishbia’s thunder?!
— PHX Fans (@PHXFansAZ) March 27, 2024
Shoutout to Ken Kendrick for opening up the wallet and sealing up the holes on the roster this off-season. https://t.co/kN9ic8Ir0F
— Nobody (@KingOfThePoors) March 27, 2024
Props to Ken Kendrick, he pulled an extra $25M out of his pocket… love that’s it’s a 1 year deal for Jordan Montgomery too
— Goldschmidt Happened (@GoldyHappens) March 27, 2024
Ken Kendrick and Mike Hazen saw Joe Mantiply start a World Series game and 10000% took it personally and it's a beautiful thing.
— Jake Oliver (@DarthDbacks) March 27, 2024
Ken Kendrick really wasn’t kidding when he said he was going to spend. Pretty awesome to see.
— Scott Howard (@ScottHoward42) March 27, 2024
Ken Kendrick has totally redeemed himself. Good for him.
— David Garcia Jr ⚾️ (@AZSportsFan_69) March 27, 2024
I will never talk bad about Ken Kendrick ever again.
— Bo (@BMaster30) March 27, 2024
Ken Kendrick deserves a lot of credit for spending so much money this offseason. Would’ve been easy to not do much this offseason and just focus on growing internally with a young team. Instead, they’re going for it. https://t.co/6kPCfBvAzX
— Sam Ficarro (@SamFicarro) March 27, 2024
if the Dbacks aren’t good this year, I don’t want to hear a single word of slander about Ken Kendrick or Mike Hazen. They went out and did everything to put this team in a spot to win!
— Zach Cecil (@zachcecil7721) March 27, 2024
I’d like to take a moment to thank Ken Kendrick. I’ve give him a lot of grief in the past. Him allowing Hazen to sign Montgomery 2 days before the season starts is massive and shows he wants to win. Let’s go @Dbacks !
— The Dude (@azsportsguy1) March 27, 2024
What a change.
More: Why Arizona Diamondbacks' Chase Field can have rainouts with roof; why there could be more
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks' Jordan Montgomery signing earns Ken Kendrick praise