PHOENIX — In the end, the Diamondbacks decided that they were likely to lose catcher Miguel Montero if he hit the free-agent market this winter, even as he expressed a desire to stay. It was not a risk they were willing to take.
And once the D-backs agreed to add a fifth year to Montero's contract extension, the five-year, $60 million deal was finalized.
"I couldn't be happier, to be honest," Montero said, holding his 20-month-old son, Angel, on his lap during the press conference Saturday.
"I never saw myself playing for another team."
Neither did the D-backs, and that worked in everyone's favor.
"There are probably 10 to 12 clubs that are probably looking for starting catching in the offseason. It is not a very strong market, and Miguel would have been right up there at the top with those clubs," D-backs general manager Kevin Towers said.
"It became very clear to us that if we waited too long and got too close to free agency, it would have been difficult" to retain Montero. "Then, when you start adding some large-market clubs ... To me, even if it was somewhat of an overpay situation, it was worthwhile because of the importance of the position, the player and the intangibles he brings."
The Dodgers, Mets, Red Sox and Rays could be among the teams seeking a starting catcher in the offseason. A.J. Pierzynski and Mike Napoli are the only name catchers who are likely to become free agents after this year, and Brian McCann would join them if the Braves don't exercise his $12 million option.
The two sides stopped talks after the Cardinals' deal with Yadier Molina (five years, $75 million) changed the market in spring training, but Towers said the D-backs went back to Montero's representatives at Octagon about two weeks ago. Even Montero did not know talks were taking place until the last minute, he said. He will make $10 million in each of the next two seasons, $12 million in 2015 and $14 million in 2016 and 2017.
Among catchers, Montero is among the NL leaders in most offensive categories since he took over the starting job in June 2009. He missed the first half of 2010 with a knee injury, then had his best season in 2011, batting .282 with 18 home runs and 86 RBIs while leading the NL by throwing out 41.7 percent of potential base stealers.
More than that, Montero is a vocal clubhouse presence and relates well with his pitching staff. Montero is often on the bench 30 minutes before games, talking about the game plans with the staff and his starting pitcher. One D-backs coach noted that such attention to detail is unusual for catchers in this day and age, paying him the ultimate compliment as "old school."
"If we were to label somebody the captain of our ball club, this guy would be the captain," Towers said.
"We've talked all along that this organization is going to be built on pitching. What this guy has done with our pitching staff the last two years and with the young pitching coming up, it was paramount for us to get something done."
The D-backs' payroll is about $75 million this season, and it could grow in the next year or two, president/CEO Derrick Hall said. Ticket sales have increased this year, and the team also expects a boost in TV revenue when the current deal with FOX Sports Arizona expires after the 2015 season. The D-backs get about $30 million a year from that deal and expect to at least double that given the way NFL deals have increased recently.
Hall, Towers and managing general partner Ken Kendrick have talked about a three- or four-year plan to keep the D-backs' payroll competitive within the division, and to do that, the D-backs may need to spend a little more with the expected aggressiveness of the Dodgers' new ownership.
"We would like to increase our payroll, but we can only do that if we increase our revenues," Hall said. "I'm certainly optimistic that those (TV) revenues are going to change, whether it be with our current partner or with a Diamondbacks-driven vehicle."
The D-backs probably will put off conversations with Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson about long-term contracts until the offseason.
Montero, who has missed the last four games with a groin strain, said he does not believe the new contract will affect his performance.
"I don't really think it is going to matter. Just go play," said Montero, who signed with the D-backs in 1991 for $13,000.
"I just wanted to play in the big leagues. I thought about being a good teammate and a good clubhouse guy. That way, if I didn't make it to the big leagues, I'd at least be a coach or something like that."
