After Miguel Montero was designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs following disparaging comments he made about pitcher Jake Arrieta, the hurler weighed in on the controversy Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters before the Cubs’ game against the Washington Nationals, Arrieta said that there are no hard feelings between him and Montero, who criticized him for his handling of the Nationals’ run game in Tuesday’s loss.

“I’m sad to see him go. It’s an unfortunate situation,” Arrieta said. “He’ll say some things from the heart. He’s open and honest. That’s the way Miggy is. He regretted what he said and he felt bad about it. I told him I wasn’t mad at him. I didn’t see the comments and I don’t care what they were.”

The Nationals stole a team record seven bases against the Cubs on Tuesday night, with Trea Turner stealing two right off the bat in the first inning. After the game, Montero criticized Arrieta for not doing a better job of holding runners on base, and the Cubs designated the catcher for assignment on Wednesday morning in the wake of the comments.

“I know what it was about, and there’s a lot of honesty there,” Arrieta said. “I didn’t do him any favors. I was slow to the plate.”

Montero said that he apologized to Arrieta after the interview in the clubhouse, and the pitcher confirmed that the two did speak and work things out following the criticism.

“Miggy and I hashed it out. We had a good conversation,” he said. “That’s the move they decided to make, and obviously that’s the move that’s best for the team. That’s their call and we’ll stick by it and move forward.”

Montero will be replaced on the team’s active roster by Victor Caratini. Montero  will likely be released by the Cubs when he clears waivers, and if that happens he will be free to sign with any other MLB team. 

Speaking to reporters before the Cubs’ game against the Washington Nationals, Arrieta said that there are no hard feelings between him and Montero, who criticized him for his handling of the Nationals’ run game in Tuesday’s loss.

“I’m sad to see him go. It’s an unfortunate situation,” Arrieta said. “He’ll say some things from the heart. He’s open and honest. That’s the way Miggy is. He regretted what he said and he felt bad about it. I told him I wasn’t mad at him. I didn’t see the comments and I don’t care what they were.”

The Nationals stole a team record seven bases against the Cubs on Tuesday night, with Trea Turner stealing two right off the bat in the first inning. After the game, Montero criticized Arrieta for not doing a better job of holding runners on base, and the Cubs designated the catcher for assignment on Wednesday morning in the wake of the comments.

“I know what it was about, and there’s a lot of honesty there,” Arrieta said. “I didn’t do him any favors. I was slow to the plate.”

Montero said that he apologized to Arrieta after the interview in the clubhouse, and the pitcher confirmed that the two did speak and work things out following the criticism.

“Miggy and I hashed it out. We had a good conversation,” he said. “That’s the move they decided to make, and obviously that’s the move that’s best for the team. That’s their call and we’ll stick by it and move forward.”

Montero will be replaced on the team’s active roster by Victor Caratini. Montero  will likely be released by the Cubs when he clears waivers, and if that happens he will be free to sign with any other MLB team.