ESPN MLB insider: D-backs did well to re-sign Montero
Jun 1, 2012, 11:46 PM | Updated: Jun 2, 2012, 1:08 am
The Arizona Diamondbacks recently signed catcher Miguel
Montero to a five-year, $60 million contract extension.
The deal not only ensures the team keeps the 28-year-old
in the Valley for the duration of his prime, but gives
them reliability at a position where it’s tough to find
some.
Which is why, according to ESPN MLB insider Keith Law, the
D-backs did good with the deal.
“All he’s got to do is stay healthy, but that’s the caveat
on every contract, but especially catchers because they
get hurt a lot,” he told Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and
Wolf Friday. “But Montero has had basically one major
injury so far in his big league career, and it’s not the
kind of thing you’re going to expect to recur.”
Law said it probably would have cost the D-backs more
money to retain Montero had he reached free agency, as he
was set to do this summer, which would have hurt
them in other areas.
Besides, as far as backstops go, the team now has one of
the better all-around players in the game.
“He’s gotten better enough defensively that you’re more
than happy to leave him there for most of the contract,”
Law said. “Maybe by the end of the contract you’re looking
at him as a part-time catcher, part-time first baseman.”
