Could You Stomach Miguel Montero in Blue?

With Russell Martin off the table and signed by Toronto this week, the Dodgers and other teams in need of catching have moved on to considering other potential backstops. One name which has piqued the interest of the Dodgers and other teams including the Cubs, who missed out on nabbing Martin, is veteran catcher and slithery Snake Miguel Montero.

Montero has made negative comments toward the Dodgers in the past –“I don’t know. I really like the Giants a little better than the Dodgers” -was an infamous line Montero blurted out during the All-Star Game. Montero was and still is one of the D-backs who was part of the rise of the rivalry between the two N.L. West teams which culminated in the epic June brawl of 2013.

Montero was finger wagging at Yasiel Puig after they collided at home plate in 2013 as if reprimanding a child. His blatant words in favor of the Giants over the Dodgers certainly doesn’t sit well with Dodger fans. The D-backs moved up quickly on the rivalry ladder in 2013, and Montero was in the middle of most of the skirmishes between the two clubs following the orders from former Arizona manager Kirk Gibson. Gerardo Parra, Miguel Montero and Ian Kennedy were the sneakiest of Snakes in 2013.

Could one of these rival players end up on the Dodgers next season? Does the new front office care about the past bad blood?

I admit that Juan Uribe has become one of my favorite Dodgers. There was a time when I questioned Ned Colletti for signing the ex-Giant, but the slick third baseman is definitely a special case. Brian Wilson also disgusted me at first, but I had always respected his pitching abilities after watching him shutdown the Dodgers while in San Francisco. Unfortunately 2014 was a bad year for the Beard, but he is a Dodger now, and for some reason I’m indifferent to his past now.

There is one former Dodger/former Phillie who I will never accept as a Dodger. Shane Victorino. That didn’t really happen, did it? There’s something that just gets under my skin about Victorino which never allowed me to move on from his past confrontations with the Dodgers while with Philadelphia. Luckily, the Dodgers didn’t sign Victorino and let him move on to Boston.

Thinking about Miguel Montero behind the plate catching for the Dodgers just doesn’t seem right. I can’t imagine Yasiel Puig sitting on the bench next to Montero.

Aug 26, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers base runner Hanley Ramirez (left) slides safely into home ahead of the tag by Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero in the seventh inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Aside from the “I don’t like this guy because he was involved in the beaning of Zack Greinke and Yasiel Puig” argument, Montero is also not exactly a cheap upgrade at catcher for the Dodgers. The 31-year old left-handed hitting catcher will make $12 million next season with three more years on his contract ($40 million left due).

Montero is a solid catcher, and he is good at pitch framing which is a skill heralded by the new front office. The problem is that Montero is not exactly tearing it up with the bat anymore. He still would be an upgrade offensively over A.J. Ellis or Drew Butera, but $40 million is a lot to pay for a catcher who has hit .230 and .243 the past two seasons in Arizona. The All-Star did play 43 games more than A.J. Ellis was able to in 2013, and he was slightly better in caught stealing percentage (29%) than Ellis (25%). Interestingly, Montero committed 13 errors from behind the plate last season, and he had 5 passed balls. In 2013, he led the league with 9 passed balls. As much as Dodger fans like to complain about the defense of Ellis, he only had 8 passed balls over the last two seasons.

In comparison, Yasmani Grandal led the N.L. with 12 passed balls in 2014. Grandal, who must be on the Dodgers’ radar as well, would be a much better catching upgrade regardless of passed balls or batting average. I’d take the 26-year old Cuban switch-hitter any day over Montero or Ellis, but a trade between the Dodgers and Padres would be a rare occurrence and seems very unlikely that San Diego would part with Grandal.

With slim options on the free agent market when it comes to catching this offseason, the Dodgers will need to trade in order to acquire a decent catcher. Putting together a trade within the division for the aging and declining catcher Montero, who has three more years left on his contract, doesn’t sound ideal. While I feel strongly that the Dodgers need to strengthen their catching situation, I don’t think Montero is the answer.

Scott thinks the Dodgers should go after Montero, what do you think?

Montero would look much better in Chicago amongst the ivy, wouldn’t he?