After the Chicago Cubs traded Miguel Montero to the Toronto Blue Jays following his highly-publicized criticism of teammate Jake Arrieta, the catcher weighed in for the first time after reporting to his new team.
Montero, who blamed Arrieta for not holding on runners as the Washington Nationals stole seven bases in a recent game, was sent to the Blue Jays after being designated for assignment by the Cubs.
“It wasn’t the perfect departure, but it is what it is,” he said. “I just really don’t look back at the past right now. It’s over. So I’m just worried about today, and whatever happened, happened. (It’s) time to forget.”
Montero’s exit from Chicago came quickly, as he was designated for assignment the day after his comments went public.
“Sometimes people can’t handle the truth,” Montero told the Chicago Sun-Times the day after his comments. “That’s my biggest issue. I’m just straight forward man. A straight shooter.”
Montero will be a free agent at season’s end, and the Cubs received a player to be named later in the trade that sent him to the Blue Jays. The Cubs also sent cash to Toronto in the deal to help pay off the remainder of Montero’s 2017 salary.