Miguel Montero

Despite mutual interest between Miguel Montero and the Diamondbacks for a long-term extension, talks between the two sides have come to a standstill, reports Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. While neither Montero nor GM Kevin Towers suggested what sort of terms were being discussed, Piecoro says talks are at an impasse because Montero is seeking more guaranteed years than the D'Backs are comfortable offering.

Montero told Piecoro in September that he enjoys playing for the D'Backs and he'd be willing to discuss an extension with Arizona if the team was interested. Shortly before Montero expressed a desire to stay in Arizona long-term, MLBTR's Mark Polishuk examined what sort of contract the catcher might be looking at if he agreed to a three-year extension.

The 28-year-old is coming off his first All-Star season, having hit .282/.351/.469 with 18 homers in a career-high 553 plate appearances. Montero is entering his final year of arbitration eligibility, with MLBTR projecting a raise to about $5.3MM for 2012. Piecoro writes that there's no rush to work out a deal quite yet, with the arbitration process a couple months off, but that the two sides will likely want finality before the start of the season.

Miguel Montero told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that he’s open to the possibility of an extension, though he isn’t sure if the Diamondbacks will approach him about a deal. Piecoro hears that it’s “probable” that the D'Backs will discuss the possibility with the catcher this offseason. If they come calling, Montero will listen attentively.

"They're more than welcome to come to me in the off-season," Montero told Piecoro. "Obviously, I want to stay here. My family likes Phoenix, so it's always good to stay here. I like the front-office guys. I like the fans. I like everybody. I would be more than happy to stay here."

Montero earns $3.2MM this year and will be arbitration eligible one last time this offseason before hitting free agency after the 2012 season. MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk examined the possibility of an extension for Montero in detail this weekend, suggesting that a three-year deal in the $21MM range could work.

One of the key reasons behind the Diamondbacks' surprising run to the top of the NL West has been the play of Miguel Montero.  The catcher entered today's action with a .278/.348/.460 line, made his first All-Star appearance and (perhaps most importantly) showed no lingering after-effects of the knee surgery that sidelined him for two months in 2010.

Montero, 28, avoided arbitration last winter by agreeing to a one-year, $3.2MM contract and he has one arb year left before hitting the free agent market after the 2012 season.  Since hard-hitting catchers are a rare commodity in the game, it stands to reason that Arizona will try to sign Montero to a long-term contract.  The D'Backs explored locking Montero up before 2010 but nothing came of those negotiations, possibly since the club was still rueing its last multiyear deal to a catcher.

I could see the Diamondbacks approaching Montero with a three-year contract, thus covering his last arb year and his first two free agent seasons.  The total value would be in the ballpark of $21MM — $5.5MM for 2012 (about what Montero would make in a one-year contract that avoids arbitration), $7MM for 2013 and $8.5MM for 2014.  The D'Backs will probably shoot for at least one club option year, worth around $11MM for 2015.  If that hypothetical option year was used, then Montero would be a free agent at age 32 and a candidate to score another multiyear deal if he's still a productive bat and able to handle the rigors of catching.

The D'Backs also face interesting arbitration cases with Joe Saunders (third year) and first-timers Ryan Roberts and Ian Kennedy this winter.  MLBTR's Mike Axisa considered Kennedy's case for an extension back in July. 

The Diamondbacks have interest in signing catcher Miguel Montero to a long-term deal, MLB.com's Steve Gilbert reported yesterday.  Managing general partner Ken Kendrick mentioned the idea, though negotiations have not begun.  Montero would like to sign long-term.

Montero, 26, played his first full season in '09 and posted an excellent .294/.355/.478 line in 470 plate appearances.  His progress makes Chris Snyder expendable.  If Snyder comes back successfully from back surgery, the D'Backs will be one of very few teams with two legitimate starting catchers.

Montero will earn $2MM in 2010, his first arbitration year.  The D'Backs will presumably want to buy out his '11 and '12 arb years and a free agent season or two.  Instead of using the more expensive contracts of Snyder and Ryan Doumit as comparables, perhaps the D'Backs will look at more recent deals for Chris Iannetta and Carlos Ruiz as models.  Both players gave up their arbitration years more cheaply and allowed for club options on their first free agent seasons.