Less than a week after his instant-classic rant, the Cubs shipped disgruntled catcher Miguel Montero to the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Cubs finalized the trade on Monday, including cash to offset the roughly $7 million remaining on the last year of Montero's contract. The Cubs will get a player to be named later or a cash consideration, hoping this is an addition-by-subtraction deal that shakes up a .500 clubhouse and not an overreaction that leaves them short-handed and inexperienced behind the plate.
Montero's issues with controlling the running game go beyond his heat-of-the-moment criticisms of Jake Arrieta, but he can be a useful American League player (and an entertaining presence for the Toronto media).
A two-time All-Star with a left-handed swing and more than 8,600 innings of experience behind the plate, Montero was hitting .286 with an .805 OPS in 44 games with the Cubs this year.
In what should be a must-listen media session and crowd reaction to a key contributor to the 2016 World Series team, the Blue Jays will make a rare visit to Wrigley Field next month.