Are Miguel Montero’s days as a D-back numbered?

Back in February, the Arizona Diamondbacks came to terms
on a one-year deal with catcher Miguel Montero that helped
both sides avoid the arbitration process.

That deal, reported to be worth around $5.9 million for
the season, also was the result of the two sides failing
to agree on terms of a long-term deal to keep the All-Star
in Sedona red for years to come.

Thursday, Jon Heyman of CBS
Sports wrote that Montero’s reps are seeking a deal
similar to the
four-year, $52 million pact Victor Martinez got from the
Detroit Tigers prior to the 2011 season.

Heyman also writes that Montero won’t get that kind of
dough, at least not in Arizona.

Montero has improved his throwing along with
his hitting, but the Diamondbacks aren’t envisioning a
deal in the V-Mart neighbrhood. The 18 home runs and 86
RBIs were career highs. Montero and Martinez have the same
agent, Alan Nero.

While Montero did post career highs in home runs, RBIs and
hits in 2011, along with improving his defense (Montero
ranked 2nd among MLB catchers by throwing out 40% of
potential base stealers in ’11), he hasn’t shown the
consistent production that Martinez has during his career.

Martinez has been an All-Star four times, has a Louisville
Silver Slugger Award in his trophy case, and has knocked
in more than 100 runs four times.

The belief is that Montero’s 2011 season was good enough
to make him too expensive for the Diamondbacks to re-
sign…and if that’s the case, an even better 2012 would
certainly mean the end of Montero in Arizona.
regardless of what happens this season.

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