The Chicago Cubs have made a bold move here on day two of the winter meetings. They’ve traded for veteran catcher Miguel Montero. The 31-year-old catcher signed a big six year, $65.9 million extension back in 2012. He is owed $12 million this season, and $14 million the next two seasons, in which the Cubs have agreed to pay all of that. Montero seemed to be at the peak of his career during the 2011 season when the D’backs won the NL West, hitting .282 with 18 homers then followed that up with .286 and 15 homers in 2012. However, since his 2012 season, Miguel hit .230 in 2013 and .243 last season. The Cubs are banking on him being a veteran presence in the clubhouse along with producing at least in between his 2013-14 season and his 2011-12 season.
The Diamondbacks have received two lower A-ball pitchers in return for Montero. Jeferson Mejia signed out of the Dominican last year at age 18 and posted a 3.00 ERA in just nine innings of work. At age 19, he played in the Cubs' rookie ball team and posted a solid 2.48 ERA in 40 innings along with 45 strikeouts. What is impressive about this young man is that, in just under 50 innings of work, he has given up one home run and in Chase Field, that can be huge. His fastball sits in the mid 90’s and has two developing breaking balls. Scouts believe that once he gets his breaking pitches down with good command, he can be a devastating strikeout pitcher and maybe even a starter. At 6’7 200lbs at just 19 years old, he can be an intimidating presence on the mound.
The D’backs also received righty Zack Godley. The 6’3" 235lb is 24 years old, reaching high A-ball last season and posted a 3.57 ERA with 52 K’s in 40.1IP. He was originally drafted out of high school in the 50th round by the New York Mets but declined to sign and went to the university of Tennessee where, later in 2013, he was drafted in the 10th round by the Cubs.
The D'backs made the move because of the money Montero was owed. It was a clear salary dump for good, promising prospects. This trade now frees up at least $12 million for the D’backs this offseason to make moves regarding a starting pitcher. It has been rumored that James Shields is high on the D’backs' radar. We will wait to see how that plays out. As for the Cubs, they got the catcher they want to help complement Wellington Castillo. Plus, the Cubs have the money to take on Montero’s entire contract. With rumors going around that the Cubs are frontrunners for Jon Lester, this veteran catcher is a perfect fit.