
Snake eyes: D-backs’ $425 million investment in starting pitching hasn’t gone as planned
The normally budget-conscious Arizona Diamondbacks have been willing to spend big money over the past several years, taking chances on the notoriously volatile market of free agent starting pitching. So far, it’s come up snake eyes. Over the past 5 1/2 years, Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick has committed roughly $425 million to four pitchers — Corbin Burnes, Jordan Montgomery, Eduardo Rodríguez and Madison Bumgarner. The combined return on that investment has been a 30-48 record, 5.25 ERA, minus-0.4 WAR and two Tommy John surgeries.