Montgomery exercises $22.5 million option with defensemen, Pederson declines, AP source says

PHOENIX — Left-hander Jordan Montgomery exercised his $22.5 million option on the Arizona Diamondbacks, while the team exercised options to retain third baseman Eugenio Suarez and right-hander Merril Kelly for 2025, a person familiar with the team told The Associated Press. decisions.

Joc Pederson declined his $14 million mutual option, will receive a $3 million buyout and become a free agent, the person said, speaking Saturday on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the moves.

Montgomery, 31, signed a one-year contract last March worth $25 million but didn’t justify the high price tag, finishing 8-7 with a 6.23 ERA in 117 innings. The poor performance drew the ire of D-backs owner Ken Kendrick after the season.

Montgomery’s option would have increased to $25 million if he had made 23 starts, and he finished with 21. The option brings his deal total to $47.5 million.

Suarez was a key player for the Diamondbacks and had one of the best seasons of his career, batting .256 with 30 homers and 101 RBIs. He will earn $15 million next season as part of the deal he signed with the Reds in 2018, increasing the contract value to $79 million over eight years.

Kelly, 36, battled a shoulder injury for much of last season but was good when he pitched, finishing 5-1 with a 4.03 ERA. He will earn $7 million next season and his contract will be worth $24 million over three seasons.

Left-handed hitting Pederson did well against right-handed pitching last season and finished with 23 homers while batting in the middle of the D-back order. Including his buyout, he earned $12.5 million for the year in Arizona.