MLB trade news: Cubs send Mike Montgomery to Royals, receive Martin Maldonado in return

Alexis Mansanarez

MLB trade news: Cubs send Mike Montgomery to Royals, receive Martin Maldonado in return image

The Royals have their pitcher back.

Kansas City acquired lefty Mike Montgomery from Chicago on Monday, the team announced. The Cubs got catcher Martín Maldonado in return.

The Royals signed Maldonado to a one-year deal in March, but the 32-year-old has underperformed at the plate, batting .224 after 73 games with the club.

Meanwhile, Montgomery made 20 relief appearances with the Cubs this season. He is 1-2 with a 5.67 ERA.

Montgomery had been with Chicago since 2016 and set career highs in 2017 with seven wins, three saves and 100 strikeouts.

The Cubs bid him farewell and thanked Montgomery for throwing "the most important pitch" in club history when he recorded the final out in the 2016 World Series. 

"We will be forever grateful for what you helped bring the city of Chicago," the Cubs' tweet read.

Montgomery was originally drafted by Kansas City with the 36th overall pick of the 2008 draft.

 

Alexis Mansanarez