Alex Anthopoulos, the President of Baseball Operations for the Atlanta Braves, is well-known for his bold and strategic trades, but this offseason has been relatively quiet for him and his team. Despite the Braves losing homegrown All-Star pitcher Max Fried to the New York Yankees, their rotation still has a solid foundation. However, they could benefit from adding a fifth starter to complete the staff. One player who could be a potential target for a trade is Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Jordan Montgomery, who struggled during his time with the D-Backs in 2024. After a disappointing season, Montgomery faced public criticism from Arizona’s owner, Ken Kendrick, who deemed acquiring him a mistake. Additionally, with the Diamondbacks adding Corbin Burnes to their rotation, Montgomery’s role in Arizona’s future is uncertain.
In light of these circumstances, Christopher Kline of FanSided strongly suggested that Anthopoulos consider trading for Montgomery, calling it an opportunity the Braves might not get again. Kline pointed out that Montgomery could seamlessly fill the spot left vacant by Fried in the Braves’ rotation and provide a left-handed veteran presence with significant postseason experience. Montgomery, who was exceptional during the Texas Rangers’ 2023 World Series run, parlayed that success into a lucrative contract with Arizona. However, after a tough 2024 campaign where he posted a 6.23 ERA in 21 appearances, his value has dipped. Still, if Montgomery can return to the form that saw him post a 3.20 ERA over 188.1 innings in 2023, he could be worth the $22.5 million owed to him in the coming season, especially if the Diamondbacks are willing to absorb some of the contract.
This type of trade—acquiring Montgomery and potentially getting an All-Star season out of him—would be characteristic of the Braves’ ability to make savvy moves. The question now is whether Anthopoulos will seize this opportunity and make the trade to bring Montgomery to Atlanta.
