Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero is coming off a career-year in 2011 and is under contract through 2012. While his short-term future with the organization already in place, there is mutual interest between the D-backs and Montero to sign a contract extension. Unfortunately, the two sides cannot come to an agreement on the length of any potential contract.
According to this report, General Manager Kevin Towers said he has spoken with Montero this off-season about a contract extension, but talks are at a standstill because Montero is seeking more guaranteed years than the Diamondbacks are comfortable offering.
He's a big part of our organization," Towers said Tuesday at the Pfister Hotel, where he spent the day in meetings with fellow general managers. "I'm hoping at some point in time there's a meeting of the minds on where we go and we can find middle ground where we'd be comfortable."
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"I would really like to stay here, but at the same time I have confidence in myself and I know what I'm capable of doing," Montero said by phone Tuesday. "I feel like I'm in great shape now and for years to come. I'm still 28 years old. I could be one of the youngest free-agent catchers out there next year.
There is no denying that Montero is one of the better catchers in all of baseball and he will be a hot commodity should he hit the open market in 2012. With mutual interest on both sides, one has to believe a contract extension will be worked out sometime in the next 12 months. Montero is too good of a catcher to let go and Arizona knows it.
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