The Atlanta Braves have been busy in the offseason and may not be done making moves. This week, the Braves made waves by acquiring right-hander Griffin Canning in exchange for outfielder Jorge Soler, but MLB analyst Jim Bowden believes that Atlanta will still have more trade tricks up their sleeve for their pitching rotation.
Among Bowden’s bold predictions for the offseason? He’s eyeing a potential move for left-hander Jordan Montgomery from the Arizona Diamondbacks, with the Braves parting with two minor-league pitchers to make it happen.
Montgomery might be available for a reasonable price. After his phenomenal performance with the Texas Rangers in 2023—including a solid run to help them capture the World Series—the lefty landed a one-year, $25 million contract with the Diamondbacks, which included a player option for 2025. However, 2024 wasn’t kind to Montgomery.
He posted an 8-7 record but with a rocky 6.23 ERA and a concerning 1.65 WHIP across 25 games (21 of which were starts). His strikeout count also dropped to 83 over 117 innings. For a pitcher who shone in Texas, Montgomery’s first year in Arizona has raised eyebrows.
With his player option at $22.5 million, Montgomery seems almost certain to take the payday, especially given his underwhelming performance in 2024. This leaves the Diamondbacks in a tough spot: either bring him back to try and turn things around in the NL West or find a trade partner willing to take on part of his salary. Enter the Atlanta Braves, who could find a way to make this trade work if Arizona is willing to cover half of Montgomery’s remaining salary.
Atlanta might have good reason to roll the dice. Despite a tough season, Montgomery’s performance was notably better in road games. At Chase Field, a notoriously hitter-friendly ballpark, he posted an unsightly 6.90 ERA. Yet, on the road, his ERA dropped to 5.50.
While those numbers still aren’t ideal, context is crucial—Montgomery faced some of the league’s most batter-friendly stadiums in away games, including Coors Field in Colorado, Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, and Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
A move to Atlanta could offer Montgomery a much-needed reset, especially if the Braves only have to give up a pair of minor-league pitchers and avoid parting with current MLB talent. For a team looking to bolster its rotation with a veteran who has shown promise in the past, Montgomery could be the ideal buy-low, high-reward candidate.
