Nothing erases a bad loss like the excitement of a trade. Even acquiring a backup catcher can take the sting out of defeat, and the Cubs made just such a deal by picking up veteran backstop Martin Maldonado from the Royals in exchange for Mike Montgomery following a frustrating loss to the Reds.
Maldonado’s acquisition didn’t occur in a vacuum, of course. Willson Contreras was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Sunday, because of a heel injury the Cubs worried might be aggravated by playing. But al indications are that this move was not made solely because of an injury, since the Cubs insist Contreras isn’t likely to to be out beyond the minimum 10-day allotment.