Chicago Cubs: Team makes smart move in trade for Martin Maldonado

The Chicago Cubs traded RP Mike Montgomery for veteran catcher Martín Maldonado Monday. Here’s what that means.

Just over two and a half years ago, Mike Montgomery was on top of the world. After a solid start to 2016 with a 2.34 ERA in 32 games with the Seattle Mariners, Montgomery was traded to the Chicago Cubs to provide some bullpen depth for a team deep in the chase for their first championship in 108 years.

Little did he know, he would have one of the most important roles in helping the Cubs snap their curse, as he came into the 10th inning of Game 7 and got the save to help the team win the World Series.

It was the peak of Montgomery’s career to date, as his ERA has steadily increased from 3.38 in 2017 to an unacceptable 5.67 in 2019.

It was time for the Cubs and Montgomery to part ways, and that’s exactly what they did on Monday as the Cubs acquired veteran catcher Martin Maldonado in exchange for the 30-year-old lefty.

The Cubs were looking to be set at the backstop position with Willson Contreras and Victor Caratini sharing the everyday duties until Contreras missed the last two games with a foot injury. He was placed on the injured list late Monday night.

It’s a smart move for the Cubs, as the team adds veteran catching experience to help in the playoff push after the All-Star Break.

The move will undoubtedly not be the last acquisition that the Cubs make before the trade deadline on July 31 seeing as though Montgomery was one of only three left-handers in the Cubs bullpen.

Randy Rosario and Kyle Ryan become the only two southpaws in the Cubs pen with the departure of Montgomery.

Kansas City won’t be unfamiliar territory to Montgomery, who was drafted by the team in 2008. Despite having never put on a Royals uniform at the big league level, it won’t be his first time with the organization.

It’s a solid move for all involved parties, as Montgomery will now get his long-coveted chance as a starting pitcher in Kansas City’s rotation. It’s also a great landing spot for the veteran Maldonado, who will get a shot at a title with the Cubs.

Really, it’s a pretty simple and conservative trade for the Cubs. In acquiring Maldonado, the Cubs add some veteran catching depth in Conteras’s absence as well as freeing up some space on the roster and payroll moving forward.

While Maldonado is a free agent after 2019, Montgomery still has two years of team control and is arbitration eligible in 2020 and 2021.

However, the move is a bit ominous for the young Caratini. It’s unlikely that the Cubs acquired Maldonado just for the 10 days that Contreras will spend on the IL. It’s now quite likely that Catarini will find himself in a uniform other than the Cubs pinstripes by August 1.

Now it’s time for Cubs fans to sit back and watch as the next moves unfold, as the team has some more roster tweaks to make prior to the end of month trade deadline.