'That's what I'm here for': Monty enters spring with eye on starting

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The competition for spots in the Diamondbacks rotation is expected to be fierce with seven pitchers looking to fill five spots.

Corbin Burnes, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez seem to have spots locked up, leaving Brandon Pfaadt, Ryne Nelson and Jordan Montgomery battling for the final one.

However, Montgomery, who is coming off a disappointing 2024 season in which he had an ERA of 6.23 and was shifted to the bullpen in August, said he believes he has a spot already.

Asked if last season put him in a position where he has to compete for a job this spring, the left-hander said, ¡°Probably not.¡±

So you think your rotation spot is secure?

¡°Yeah, I mean, that¡¯s what I¡¯m here for,¡± Montgomery said. ¡°They¡¯re paying me a lot of money.¡±

When asked about Montgomery¡¯s comments, Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen said that the organization factors in a number of things when determining roles on the team outside of strictly the performance during Spring Training. That can include a player¡¯s track record over the last several seasons.

Hazen was then asked if he felt like Montgomery was going to have to compete for a spot.

¡°I think that he is going to go out there and be a candidate to go out there as one of our starting pitchers,¡± Hazen said. ¡°I think that he has the success behind him, that if he comes out there and takes care of his business, that he's going to have every opportunity.¡±

Montgomery was signed just after Opening Day last season to a one-year contract with a player option for 2025. After earning $25 million last year, Montgomery exercised his option and is set to make $22.5 million this year.

At the end of last season, Diamondbacks managing general partner Ken Kendrick went on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM and took the blame for signing Montgomery.

¡°Let me say it the best way I can say it: If anyone wants to blame anyone for Jordan Montgomery being a Diamondback, you're talking to the guy that should be blamed, because I brought it to their attention,¡± Kendrick said. ¡°I pushed for it. [Baseball operations] agreed to it. It wasn't in our game plan when he was signed right at the end of Spring Training, and looking back in hindsight, [it was] a horrible decision to have invested that money in a guy that performed as poorly as he did. It's our biggest mistake this season from a talent standpoint, and I'm the perpetrator of that.¡±

Montgomery was asked Thursday about Kendrick¡¯s comments.

¡°I¡¯ve got two older brothers, so you¡¯re not going to hurt my feelings,¡± Montgomery said. ¡°I know my season wasn¡¯t great, and I expect a lot out of myself also.¡±

Montgomery said he lost 20-25 pounds during the offseason in an effort to move better and felt good about how his winter went.

One hiccup, though, is some discomfort he felt in the index finger of his left hand on his final bullpen session before reporting to camp.

Manager Torey Lovullo said Montgomery was diagnosed with a flexor strain on his index finger, and Montgomery said it should only keep him from throwing for a few more days.