Jordan Montgomery complaining about his free agency when he’s making $25 million (and will make another $22.5M in 2025 once he declines his opt-out) and has a 6.25 ERA and negative 1.4 WAR is interesting. Shouldn’t the Diamondbacks be the ones complaining?

As for Montgomery recently telling the Boston Herald he would have been happy to sign with Boston, word is when the Red Sox suggested a willingness to do a four-year deal, Montgomery never engaged with them.

The 2023 World Series hero apparently was skeptical about Boston’s October chances (he wasn’t alone there) and preferred to wait for a Rangers offer that never came. The Red Sox held a three-hour Zoom with him, and club sources say they told him he could become a differencemaker, but he ultimately preferred other options.

Montgomery also turned down a four-year deferred Yankees offer for $72M, and Arizona’s deal was probably better. But in hindsight, he very likely could have gotten bigger bucks in Boston. …

It may be a new ballgame in Baltimore with owner David Rubenstein having a chance to hold on to ace pitcher Corbin Burnes. Snell likes San Francisco but would also be tough in Camden Yards. …

Cubs 1B Michael Busch is playing well two ways, so you wonder whether Pete Alonso is a fit there now. One possibility: Busch is so good defensively, they could move him to 2B.

The $151M Chapman deal could possibly raise the bar for Alonso, offered $158M over seven years by the Mets last year. Though Chapman’s an elite defender, he’s two years older and never had 100 RBIs. …

How did Jose Iglesias have to do minors deals four straight years? OMG, has he ever been good. Mets should bring him back, this time on majors deal.