The Chicago Cubs have acquired C Martin Maldonado from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for LHP Mike Montgomery.
The Cubs might need a catcher if Willson Contreras\’ injury is worse than they think. Maldonado is a very good defensive catcher, and a serviceable backup. He is a good backup catcher, and while the price of Montgomery isn\’t great, he is a rental, and better than backup Victor Caratini.
Maldonado, 32, has a .227 average with six homers, six homers and 17 RBIs in 263 Plate Appearances for the Royals this year. In his MLB career for the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Angels and Houston Astros, Maldonado has a .220 average with 57 homers and 210 RBIs in 2232 Plate Appearances.
The Royals are a rebuilding team and a rental catcher like Maldonado is useless to them, especially with Salvador Perez returning next year. In return, they get a major league pitcher that is controllable. Montgomery will fill the open 5th starter role after Homer Bailey was traded to Oakland. Montgomery has come out of the bullpen and started throughout his career. He got the final out for the Cubs when they won the 2016 World Series, and was originally a Royals 1st rounder in 2008, but was traded in the crazy Wil Myers and Jake Odorizzi for James Shields and Wade Davis deal.
Montgomery, 30, has a 5.67 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 27 innings for the Cubs this year. In his MLB career for the Cubs and Seattle Mariners, Montgomery has a 3.72 ERA with 360 strikeouts in 471.2 innings.
CarterHud 