Levine: Cubs Acquire Montero In Exchange For 2 Minor League Pitchers
By Bruce Levine-
SAN DIEGO (CBS) -- The Cubs have acquired two-time All-Star catcher Miguel Montero of the Diamondbacks in exchange for minor league pitching prospects Jeferson Mejia and Zack Godley, sources confirmed Tuesday afternoon.
The Cubs have been searching for an upgrade at catcher after missing out on free agent Rusell Martin, who signed with the Blue Jays. The 31-year-old Montero, a left-handed hitter, has three years and $40 million left on his contract, so this move would be a financial commitment for Chicago.
Montero hit .243 with 13 homers and 72 RBIs and a .699 OPS in 136 games with Arizona last season. He's a career .264 hitter with a .763 OPS.
Montero is considered a good defensive catcher and one of the better pitch framers in all of baseball. Part of his appeal is that he could work with the young pitchers on the Cubs' staff and be a positive influence on the young hitters who will figure onto the Opening Day roster.
Welington Castillo, 27, is the Cubs' incumbent catcher. He hit .237 with 13 homers and 46 RBIs last season and is arbitration-eligible.
Mejia is a 20-year-old who spent most of 2014 playing rookie ball in the Arizona League, where he went 2-4 with a 2.48 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. He struck out 45 in 40 innings.
Godley is a 24-year-old right-hander was went 4-3 with a 3.09 ERA in time split between low Class-A Kane County and high Class-A Daytona in 2014. He had a 1.32 WHIP.
