Jordan Montgomery has one interesting clause in deal with Diamondbacks

Jordan Montgomery’s new deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks apparently accounts for the risks stemming from his lengthy offseason wait.

Montgomery finally ended his long holdout by agreeing to a contract with the reigning NL champion Diamondbacks on Monday. The deal is for two years with a vesting option for the second year (full financial details here).

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that there is another interesting wrinkle in Montgomery’s deal as well: he can opt out if he makes 10 starts in 2024. Should he make 10 starts, Montgomery’s 2025 salary will vest at $20 million (with additional $2.5 million boosts for if he hits 18 starts and $5 million at 23 starts). That means Montgomery’s max salary for the 2025 season would be $25 million.

On the surface, that might seem extremely attainable for the left-hander, who has made 30 or more starts in each of the last three seasons. But in waiting until almost Opening Day to sign his new deal, Montgomery missed the entirety spring training. That could put him at a greater risk of injury unless he takes the proper time to build back up, which would bring him well past the start of the regular season.

Additionally, Montgomery is 31 years old now and had a Tommy John surgery in 2018. While the odds are that he shouldn’t have any trouble reaching 10 starts in 2024, the Diamondbacks, a team that has mostly been focused on adding durable players this offseason, are protecting themselves just in case.