This Mets-Diamondbacks trade would give the Mets their next land reclamation project

The Arizona Diamondbacks made a big mistake when they signed left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery to a contract worth approximately $50 million. At this point, even front office members within the Diamondbacks organization have admitted that signing Montgomery was a mistake.

It could be difficult to get rid of him unless the Diamondbacks find an organization that thinks they can turn Montgomery’s career around. There may be no baseball team that can change pitchers’ careers better than the New York Mets.

The Mets turned around the careers of Luis Severino and Sean Manaea this year. These two pitchers both had excellent seasons compared to what they had done in recent years.

Zachary Rymer of Bleacher Report recently listed one player from each team that they could trade this offseason. For the Diamondbacks, it was Jordan Montgomery.

“Rather than keeping the 31-year-old, the best thing for everyone would be a trade that would give him a fresh start elsewhere. The D-backs would likely have to eat some of his 2025 salary to make a deal happen, but probably not the entire sum,” Rymer wrote.

For more news and rumors, check out the work of MLB Insider Robert Murray The Baseball Insiders Podcastsubscribe to The Moonshotour weekly MLB newsletter, and join the Discord to get the scoop between now and the MLB offseason.

In order for the Diamondbacks to send Montgomery to the Mets, Arizona will have to eat part of his contract. For the sake of this deal, let’s assume the Diamondbacks eat exactly half of Montgomery’s remaining contract.

This deal would send Montgomery and cash to the Mets in exchange for 15th-ranked prospect Dom Hamel and 19th-ranked prospect Nick Morabito.

Hamel, 25, is on the older side to be considered a potential candidate. He was excellent in his first two full professional seasons, posting a 3.25 ERA and a 3.85 ERA in those two years. But last year he posted an ERA well above 6.00. He has some excellent pitches, led by his slider. Until last year, he seemed ready to play in the big league, but a trade to the Diamondbacks could be exactly what he needs to turn his career around.

Morabito, 21, was outstanding in Low-A and High-A last season. In 119 games, he slashed .312/.403/.398 with 17 doubles and 59 stolen bases. He’s never been considered an elite hitter, but with an OBP over .400, it doesn’t really matter how he gets on base. His speed is game-breaking. He has the ability to change every day when he just reaches base.

Montgomery, 31, posted a 6.23 ERA last year, good for the worst ERA he has posted in a full season in his entire big league career. Before that, he posted a sub-4.00 ERA in three consecutive seasons, including an excellent six months with the Texas Rangers, where he helped lead the team to the 2023 World Series. Montgomery could represent a change of scenery away from turning his career around, and the Mets would be the perfect place to do it.