Giants’ Blake Snell slams D-Backs’ Jordan Montgomery for criticizing MLB agent Boras | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats & Rumors

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Blake Snell has pushed back against criticism his agent, Scott Boras, received from his former client Jordan Montgomery.

“My experience with Scott has been great,” Snell said Sunday, per Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic. “He’s told me everything, every offer I’ve ever had. So for him to be criticized for what I believe to be false, it’s not fair at all. I truly believe that.”

Montgomery reportedly dropped Boras in April after he signed a one-year, $25 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, a figure far below what many expected of him. The left-hander claimed his veteran agent “kind of butchered” his offseason negotiations.

Snell spoke pragmatically about Montgomery’s situation.

“I saw how (Montgomery) struggled, but he signed the contract he ultimately wanted to sign,” he said. “He has a choice. I don’t know what other contracts he was offered, but I know everything I was offered. It’s just sad that he feels that way when I see Scott as a very honorable man.”

Not signing with a team until late March may have played a role in Montgomery’s performance, but he has so far proved right the teams that seemed to balk at his asking price.

The 31-year-old is 8-6 with a 6.44 ERA. His 6.3 strikeouts per nine innings are a career low, while he is allowing his second-most hits (11.7 per nine innings). He allowed six earned runs in 5.2 innings in his last start, a 10-8 win over the Miami Marlins, and Arizona moved him to the bullpen.

Snell’s defense of Boras is understandable given their ongoing working relationship, but Montgomery’s comments are part of a larger narrative surrounding the legendary agent. Snell, Montgomery, Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman were all clients of Boras this winter, and all four ended up signing for less than their market projections. Perhaps the 71-year-old is finally losing his magic touch.

Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer explained that other factors were at play and helped explain why he couldn’t get better deals for his clients. His four stars all had questions about their future value, and the turmoil around the regional sports network model meant teams had less money to spend.

Thanks to Snell, Boras may have the opportunity to respond to his critics in a few months.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner can retire after the 2024 season, an eventuality that seems increasingly likely as he improves on the mound. Since returning from a groin injury in July, he has a 1.30 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 55.1 innings.