3 pitchers the Orioles should stay away from this offseason

Jordan Montgomery

After the 2023 World Series, Jordan Montgomery was one of the most sought after pitchers in baseball. He threw a career high 188.2 innings with a career low 3.20 ERA and helped the Texas Rangers win their first championship. Montgomery was expected to sign one of the largest contracts of anyone during that offseason, but things did not go as planned.

Montgomery and his agent, Scott Boras, decided to play "hard to get" well into spring training and the decision backfired. Instead of the mega contract people were expecting, Montgomery signed a one year contract with the Arizona Diamonbacks with a player option for a second year. Because he got a late start to his season, Montgomery didn't make his first appearance for the Diamondbacks until April 19. He looked good in that start but it went downhill from there.

During the 2024 season, Montgomery looked lost on the mound. He only had one start where he did not allow an earned run and posted a 6.40 ERA in 21 starts before being moved to the bullpen. Things didn't get much better for him there but he did earn his first career save. After his disappointing season Montgomery made the very easy decision to opt into his final season with the Diamondbacks that will earn him $22.5 million.

Recent reports have indicated that the Diamondbacks are not just willing to trade Montgomery, but also willing to eat some of his salary, giving the Orioles a potential buy low option. However, the O's should pass. Montgomery will be 32 years old at the beginning of the 2025 season which is around the point in many pitchers careers when they have to start to reinvent themselves.

Montgomery's velocity was down last season and he posted career lows in strikeout percentage and xERA. Even with Arizona eating some of the money, a trade for Montgomery will cost the Birds a solid prospect and leave them will an expensive contract for a 32 year old pitcher trying to figure out a new way to get hitters out.