Shelby Miller, Jordan Montgomery trade grades: Who won Brewers trade with Diamondbacks?
The Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers pulled off a trade on July 31, with Arizona sending reliever Shelby Miller and starter Jordan Montgomery to Milwaukee for a player to be named or cash considerations.
Miller and Montgomery are set to become free agents after this season. Miller is 3-3 with a 1.98 ERA, with 40 strikeouts and 11 walks this season in 36.1 innings.
Montgomery is out for the year with an arm injury.
What grades did the Diamondbacks and Brewers receive for the trade? Who won the 2025 MLB trade deadline deal?
Check out the early reviews for the trade between the DBacks and Brewers at the 2025 MLB trade deadline.
Bleacher Report: Diamondbacks earn an F, Brewers get a D for Shelby Miller, Jordan Montgomery trade
Zachary D. Rymer writes: "The D-backs saved a couple million dollars in this deal. That's it. That's the return. It would be disappointing even if there wasn't backstory with Montgomery, but there is and it's not pretty. The best hope is that the player to be named later will unexpectedly turn out to be a big-name player in a few years' time. It's happened before, even if it is rare."
The Athletic: Diamondbacks given a B+, Brewers take a B- for Shelby Miller, Jordan Montgomery trade
Tim Britton writes: "On a Diamondbacks roster where nearly every pitcher has underperformed, Miller was a shining counterpoint. In his second stint with the club, he’d emerged as a reliable late-game option, and his adoption of a splitter in 2024 has made him a menace against left-handed hitters. Such reverse-split relievers can prove especially helpful in the postseason, where Milwaukee is headed once again. The cost to the Brewers is essentially $2 million of the $7.5 million Montgomery is still owed on the disastrous free-agent deal he signed with Arizona ahead of the 2024 season. He’s out into next year and will not play for Milwaukee. Salary dumps can feel uncouth, and Miller could have brought back a lottery-ticket prospect. However, the DBacks have at least shown a willingness to swiftly apply payroll savings back into the roster, and if this helps them make a better bid on a player this winter, it’s worth it."
Fansided: Diamondbacks land a D, Rangers earn an A for Shelby Miller, Jordan Montgomery trade
Christopher Kline writes: "This was a salary dump for the Diamondbacks. And even if the Brewers never see Montgomery throw a pitch in a Brewers uniform, taking on bad money with no long-term strings attached is a great way to add an impact bullpen arm in exchange for next to nothing. Milwaukee did not sacrifice a single asset of import to bring Miller into the bullpen mix, which is a huge win."
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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