Jordan Montgomery calls out controversial agent Scott Boras

It’s easy to say that the 2024 season hasn’t turned out as Jordan Montgomery envisioned when he entered the offseason as one of the most sought-after free agents. Recently, Montgomery has reflected on the decisions he made during the offseason, especially those influenced by his former agent, Scott Boras, which led him to sign a $25 million deal with the Diamondbacks just before the season began.

Ahead of the Diamondbacks’ three-game series against the Boston Red Sox, which started on Friday, Montgomery spoke with the Boston Herald about the frustration he has felt throughout the year, particularly regarding his former agent, Scott Boras. “I had a Zoom call with [the Red Sox], that’s really all I know. It went well. I don’t know, obviously Boras kind of butchered it, so I’m just trying to move on from the offseason and try to forget it.” His words suggest that Boras may have mishandled the negotiations with Boston, potentially costing Montgomery a more lucrative and long-term contract.

There were high hopes for the tall lefty heading into the 2024 season, especially after he helped lead the Texas Rangers to a World Series championship. Similar to the expectations for other Boras clients, such as Matt Chapman, Cody Bellinger, and Blake Snell, many believed that Montgomery would secure a long-term deal with a postseason-caliber team. However, this was not the case, as the veteran did not sign with a team until late March and ended up with a short-term deal in Arizona—nowhere near the nine-figure contract he had once imagined.

Already dealing with the frustration of not securing that lucrative long-term deal, Montgomery’s performance in 2024 has made things even worse. So far, he has posted a 6.44 ERA over 19 starts. As a result, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo announced before Arizona’s series against the Red Sox that Montgomery will be coming out of the bullpen for the time being. When you compare Montgomery’s current numbers to last year’s, when he recorded a 3.20 ERA across 32 starts, the drop-off is evident.

In response to Jordan Montgomery’s statements to the Boston Herald, agent Scott Boras gave his side of the story. “I saw what Jordan said. I know what it is to be frustrated with this game. As a former player, I feel for him,” Boras said, showing some empathy while also defending his approach. He emphasized that his clients make their own decisions, stating, “They make all decisions. We wish Jordan well.”

Despite the criticism Boras has faced for how he handled Montgomery’s free agency, as well as that of Bellinger, Snell, and Chapman, he remains one of the most influential agents in baseball, representing a roster full of star talent. Although the 2023-2024 offseason had its setbacks, Boras is already looking ahead to what he’s calling the “Boras Five” season, with clients like Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, and Corbin Burnes poised to enter free agency.

While Montgomery faces an uphill battle, his move to Wasserman represents a fresh start. With the Diamondbacks gearing up for a postseason push, currently in sole possession of the top Wild Card spot in the National League, Montgomery will need to put the distractions aside and make the most of his upcoming opportunities out of the bullpen.