PHOENIX — After their season ended on a down note Sunday, the Arizona Diamondbacks were left to deal with fallout on Monday following their owner’s public criticism of one of the team’s big-name players.

Owner Ken Kendrick took responsibility for the decision to sign free-agent pitcher Jordan Montgomery, admitting he suggested the deal to the front office when starter Eduardo Rodriguez suffered a shoulder injury during spring training.

Kendrick now regrets that advice, claiming the Diamondbacks should never have signed Montgomery to a one-year contract worth $25 million. Montgomery posted an 8-7 record with a poor 6.23 ERA across 21 starts.

The twist?

Instead of parting ways with Montgomery, it’s likely Kendrick will still be dealing with him next season. Montgomery has a $22.5 million player option for 2025, which he plans to activate.

Kendrick stated on The Burns & Gambo Show, “To put it as plainly as possible, if you want to find someone to blame for Jordan Montgomery being here, look at me. I was the one who brought his name up. I was the one who advocated for it, and the front office went along with it.

“This wasn’t part of our strategy, especially since we signed him right at the end of spring training. Looking back, I realize it was a terrible choice to invest money in a player who didn’t perform well.”

“From a talent perspective, this was our biggest mistake of the season. I take full responsibility for it.”

Kendrick’s sharp critique of Montgomery is reminiscent of some of the strongest public rebukes from sports team owners, akin to the days of George Steinbrenner’s comments about Hall of Famer Dave Winfield nearly 40 years ago.

Montgomery, who joined the team too late for spring training, had a rough season and was taken out of the starting rotation in August, only to return in September.

Interestingly, Montgomery wasn’t keen on joining the Diamondbacks initially. He waited for a contract from the Texas Rangers that never came and rejected a four-year offer from the Boston Red Sox earlier in the offseason, ultimately accepting the D-backs’ deal before parting ways with his agent, Scott Boras.

Now, after six months, frustration has grown on all sides.

Kendrick expressed anger about the D-backs missing the playoffs by just one game, implying a need for the Atlanta Braves or the New York Mets to win their doubleheader on Monday. He criticized the commissioner’s office for mandating that the teams play the doubleheader as makeup games following Hurricane Helene, which caused previous postponements.

He referred to this arrangement as a “debacle” that could have been avoided, suggesting MLB should have arranged for both teams to play a doubleheader the previous Monday when they were both off.

“I’m frustrated that MLB didn’t take a stronger stance to ensure those games were played sooner,” Kendrick mentioned. “That decision could have impacted how the week unfolded for many teams. They both ended up at a disadvantage, using top pitchers and depleting their bullpens just as they head into the postseason.”

While Kendrick lamented possible effects of the hurricane on their playoff chances, players felt it was inappropriate to use that as an excuse.

“People are losing their lives and homes,” ace pitcher Zac Gallen told reporters on Monday. “For me to complain about a natural disaster while others are facing far more serious issues would be insensitive.”

Absolutely.

Despite Kendrick’s visible disappointment after the D-backs ended up with an 89-73 record—tying with the Braves and Mets but falling short in the tiebreaker—he refrained from criticizing manager Torey Lovullo or GM Mike Hazen.

“I wouldn’t say our manager or general manager did a poor job this season,” Kendrick stated.

While the D-backs welcomed 2.3 million fans to their games, the highest attendance since 2008, it remains uncertain if the team’s record payroll of $175 million will decrease after their failure to reach the playoffs.

Kendrick, who still owes former D-backs pitcher Madison Bumgarner $14 million this year, has indicated he hopes Montgomery opts out, allowing the team to save $22.5 million.

“Will we be in a financial position to compete again next year?” Kendrick said. “Yes, I believe we will. I think we have a strong core of players returning, which will keep us highly competitive next season, though it won’t come cheaply.”

The D-backs have all their starting players under contract and their rotation set, except for first baseman Christian Walker.

“There are many uncertainties ahead,” Walker remarked to reporters. “It’s quite possible I’ll remain here, but who knows?”

And there’s yet another uncertainty.

If Walker returns and struggles, could he end up as Kendrick’s next target?