Blue Jays acquire catcher Miguel Montero from Cubs

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Monday, July 3, 2017

The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired catcher Miguel Montero from the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later or cash considerations.



Chicago is paying Toronto $6,446,710 in seven installments through Oct. 6 as part of the trade, covering all but $515,039 of the $6,961,749 remaining of Montero's $14 million salary this year. He is eligible for free agency after the World Series.



The teams announced the trade Monday, five days after the Cubs designated Montero for assignment.Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said Montero will join the team Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.



"I've heard some good things about him. I heard he can swing the bat. We'll see. He's a good, veteran, left-handed bat,'' Gibbons said.



The Cubs parted ways with Montero after the veteran catcher publicly called out Jake Arrieta for allowing seven stolen bases in a June 27 loss to Washington, saying that the ace right-hander and the rest of Chicago's pitchers "were slow to the plate."



Montero said he later apologized to Arrieta, but Cubs president Theo Epstein and manager Joe Maddon both said Montero's comments necessitated a roster change.



Montero, who had a huge hit late in Game 7 of the World Series last year, hasn't thrown out a potential base stealer in 31 attempts this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He is hitting .286 with four home runs and eight RBIs in 44 games.



The 33-year-old Venezuelan has a .260 career average with 124 homers and 542 RBIs in 12 seasons with Arizona and the Cubs.



The Cubs will host the Blue Jays in a three-game series starting Aug. 18.



Toronto cleared a roster spot by transferring outfielder Darrell Ceciliani to the 60-day disabled list.



ESPN's Jesse Rogers and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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