Miguel Montero acknowledges he will see diminished playing time this season, but he has one request as he enters the final year of his contract with the Cubs.
"I’m guessing I’ll catch once or twice a week," Montero said. "It would be great to know when those days are."
Manager Joe Maddon plans to talk to Montero about his role but doesn’t believe he needs to "clear the air."
"At the end of last season, I know he was not happy with the role he had, and the playoffs," Maddon said. "However, we had discussed everything before that. I’m always open to discussion, but I honestly don’t believe he is all that upset about anything, either."
Montero said he will continue to help Willson Contreras, who will handle most of the catching duties.
"It’s not his fault he’s catching every day," said Montero, who hit a game-winning grand slam in the National League Championship Series and an RBI single in the 10th inning of the Cubs’ World Series-clinching triumph. "It should be my fault that I didn’t perform."
Caption Brett Anderson, Wade Davis and John Lackey throw bullpen sessions
Cubs pitchers Brett Anderson, Wade Davis and John Lackey throw bullpen sessions at spring training on Feb. 15, 2017. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs pitchers Brett Anderson, Wade Davis and John Lackey throw bullpen sessions at spring training on Feb. 15, 2017. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
Caption Joe Maddon on pitchers Jake Arrieta, Hector Rondon and Carl Edwards Jr.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon on pitchers Jake Arrieta, Hector Rondon and Carl Edwards Jr. on Feb. 15, 2017. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs manager Joe Maddon on pitchers Jake Arrieta, Hector Rondon and Carl Edwards Jr. on Feb. 15, 2017. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
Montero isn’t sure about his career after 2017.
"There are a lot of free agents who haven’t signed," Montero said. "I’m going to be a free agent next year. I don’t want to get to February without a team. But I’m 33. (David) Ross was 39, and he was playing last year. So I really don’t know. I go year-by-year until I’ve had enough. So right now I’m going to play this year and go from there."
Rondon’s support: Reliever Hector Rondon welcomed the additions of closer Wade Davis and Koji Uehara, who are expected to get most of the late-inning opportunities that had gone to him.
"If they’re here to help us to win, I’ll take it," Rondon said.
Rondon also received the blessing of Maddon to pitch in the World Baseball Classic if Venezuela advances to the second round.
Maddon said the reliever wants to work his way through the first part of camp before deciding if he thinks his arm’s ready to help his home country.
"(It’s) a very mature approach on his part," Maddon said.
Everything in moderation: Relievers Fernando Rodriguez (lat injury) and Conor Mullee (right elbow surgery) are on modified pitching programs.
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