The Chicago Cubs have just made their first big splash of the offseason. Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com is reporting that the Cubs have acquired catcher, Miguel Montero, from the Arizona Diamondbacks for two low level pitching prospects.The trade is currently pending a physical.
Montero batted .243 this season with 13 home runs and 72 RBI. His production has dropped the last two years, but he was formerly one of the top hitting catchers in baseball. From 2009-2012, Montero batted .283 with a .817 OPS.
The two minor league pitchers the Diamondbacks will receive are Jeferson Mejia and Zack Godley. Mejia was recently rated as the Cubs 17th overall prospect by MLB.com. He is a 19 year old pitcher at the rookie level, and he posted a 2.48 ERA this year in 40 innings. Godley had a 3.09 ERA with an impressive 12 K/9 out of relief for the Cubs organization this season in Single-A.
MLBTradeRumors adds that the Cubs will likely absorb the majority of Montero’s contract. He is owed $40 million dollars over the next three seasons.
