Diamondbacks make Montero signing official
May 27, 2012, 1:06 AM | Updated: 6:55 am
After failed negotiations over the off-season, the
Arizona
Diamondbacks
have re-signed catcher Miguel Montero to a five-year, 60
million dollar
contract extension.
“We’re thrilled for Miggy, we’re thrilled for the
organization and we’re
thrilled for the fans,” said Diamondbacks president Derek
Hall.
At 28-years-old Montero is hitting .255 with two home runs
and 21 RBI on
the season, but broke out last season with a .282 average,
18 home runs
and 86 RBI. He made the All-Star team for the first time
in his career, and
developed into a sound defensive catcher as well.
Set to be a free agent at the end of the 2012 season, the
Diamondbacks
knew that getting a deal done sooner, rather than later,
was ideal for both
sides.
“The closer you get to free agency the more chance you
probably have in
losing the exclusivity of a player,” said General Manager
Kevin Towers.
A player that leads the team in the locker room just as
much as on the
sidelines, the value that Montero has on the Diamondbacks
can never be
overstated.
“I’ve always felt that the catching position was truly one
of the most
important positions. They’re truly the field general,”
said Towers. “They’re
the ones that control your pitching staff and no one does
it better than
Miggy.”
Coach Kirk Gibson wasn’t shy towards offering praise for
the catcher either,
and said that his energy is his most unparalleled asset.
“Unbelievable. It’s impressive,” said Gibson. “Things have
been tough this
year, but I can assure, you this guy, every inning that he
ever comes in the
dugout, when he comes off the field he voices and
articulates to his
teammates to never give in.”
Sitting over ten games back of the NL West leading Los
Angeles Dodgers,
anything to propel the Diamondbacks into a winning streak
is more than
welcome, and signing one of the best catchers in the
league to a five year
deal may just do the trick.
Charlie Feinerman contributed to this report.
