When the Chicago Cubs traded Mike Montgomery for Martin Maldonado, on paper, it didn’t make sense. The Cubs had looked at Maldonado in the offseason, but he wanted regular playing time. Especially not behind Willson Contreras. Once Salvador Perez was ruled out for the season with Tommy John surgery, it appeared that Maldonado made the right choice.
Montgomery had always wanted to be a starter, even when he came from Seattle. But the Cubs had a bigger need in the bullpen, and that’s where they put him.