3 Mets trades for Jordan Montgomery that could make sense for both teams

Jordan Montgomery is one of the most often-discussed trade candidates this offseason. The high-profile criticism he has received from the Arizona Diamondbacks owner who took the blame for the signing has Montgomery mentioned in plenty of trade speculation. The New York Mets are a couple arms short in their rotation and while they shouldn’t be in any rush to make a deal, it’s difficult to ignore how much of a match they could be.

The Diamondbacks are willing to eat some of the $22.5 million owed to Montgomery this year. Is there a way we can find a trade that, at least in theory, works for both clubs?

1) Diamondbacks trade Jordan Montgomery to the Mets for Starling Marte

This is a whack-a-doo type of deal that would make much more sense if the Mets didn’t like Starling Marte. It does seem as if they do like him (both as a person and player) which makes this a doubtful event to actually take place. Let’s argue it anyway because the numbers tell a different tale.

Montgomery and Marte are close in relation to their 2025 salaries. Marte is slightly less at $20.75 million. It’s quite a lot for a guy we can trust to miss half of the year. More of a DH these days than an actual outfielder when he last suited up for Arizona for 33 games in 2020, he’d be a candidate to take on a similar role for the Diamondbacks as he will for the Mets this coming season.

The Diamondbacks lost Joc Pederson in free agency and are waiting to find out if first baseman Christian Walker will return. They have available at-bats for a player like Marte who right now is probably best equipped to have 120 scheduled starts.

Dealing Marte away helps the Mets by clearing out a roster spot they can better utilize on a different starting right fielder or even a DH. The best laid out plan would have Marte shifting into a DH role which feels a bit uninspired considering his lack of power.

Why this trade won’t work is it doesn’t really save either team much money. Yes, the Mets have opened up room to replace Marte but they’d need to do it by spending on someone. It’s nice in theory.

2) Diamondbacks trade Jordan Montgomery to the Mets for Alex Ramirez

Something has to give with Mets prospect Alex Ramirez. He’ll be in his second year on the 40-man roster and after a poor display again in 2024, he’s nearing a daunting place no prospect ever wants to land. By the time this 21-year-old is MLB-ready, could he be out of minor league options?

There isn’t much room or thought of Ramirez being a future Mets player. He has been passed by too many different players to count. Even Luisangel Acuna and Jett Williams who were infielders have overtaken him as potential starting center fielders in Queens. The best case scenario for Ramirez is to end up somewhere else where he can maybe show off his abilities as a bench player. He does have speed, swiping 40 bases in Double-A last year. 

This isn’t such a bad trade for the Diamondbacks. They get a once legitimate highly ranked prospect in return for Montgomery. However, if this is something the Mets greenlight, it probably means eating a whole lot of Montgomery’s contract. The Mets should only give up on Ramirez for a player like Montgomery if Arizona is willing to bite the other part of the bullet.

Montgomery has no place on the Diamondbacks. Ramirez has no future with the Mets. It’s a match made in, well, not heaven.