MLB trade rumors: Cubs move Miguel Montero to Blue Jays

Though the Chicago Cubs designated catcher Miguel Montero for assignment last week, they were able to trade him to the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday.

Tuesday, June 27 was the final straw for catcher Miguel Montero’s stay with the Chicago Cubs. After giving up seven stolen bases to the Washington Nationals, Montero was critical of ace Jake Arrieta’s inability to hold runners on. The Cubs designated Montero for assignment the next day on Wednesday, June 28.

Less than a week later, Montero has found a new home in 2017. According to the Toronto Blue Jays’ official Twitter account, “The Blue Jays receive Miguel Montero and cash considerations from the Cubs in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.”

The end of Montero’s three-year run with the Cubs was a strange one, but at least the struggling Cubs were able to get something instead of flat-out releasing the two-time All-Star backstop. Montero was a two-time National League All-Star (2011, 2014) during his first nine years in the big leagues with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

This will be Montero’s first stint in the Junior Circuit in his 12-year MLB career. Like Chicago, Toronto isn’t playing up to high standards this year. The Blue Jays play in an ultra-competitive American League East that might send three teams into the AL postseason.

On the year, Montero is hitting .286 with a .366 on-base percentage and a .439 slugging percentage. He has four home runs and eight runs batted in during his 44 games with the 2017 Cubs.

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Throughout his big league career, Montero has always been able to hit. However, he hasn’t been an every day starter behind the dish in a few years. Going to an American League team might help him get more at-bats the rest of the way. He could be a designated hitter for them in addition to being a backup backstop.