Montero glad to reunite with Rizzo, Martinez, Scherzer in D.C.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Miguel Montero had plenty of reasons to sign with the Nationals earlier this month. This was an offer to compete for playing time on an expected contender. He played for Davey Martinez the last three seasons in Chicago. He was signed by the Diamondbacks out of Venezuela by Mike Rizzo way back in 2001. He used to catch Max Scherzer in Arizona, too.

"And I don't have to try to throw out Trea Turner anymore," Montero said with a laugh. "He's on my team."

OK, so maybe that wasn't the biggest reason Montero chose the Nats. But it didn't hurt that he won't have to worry about the speedy shortstop who stole four bases off him last June at Nationals Park, a game that included seven total steals and eventually led to the Cubs designating Montero (who was critical of Jake Arrieta and Chicago's pitching staff) for assignment.

Defense isn't Montero's calling card, but the Nationals inked him to a minor league contract because they think his left-handed bat could be valuable and allow fellow catcher Matt Wieters to take more regular days off this season.

Montero isn't assured of anything - general manager Mike Rizzo said he'll compete with Pedro Severino for the No. 2 catching job - and for now he's not stressing over what potential role he might have with his new club.

"I've still got to make the team," he said. "I don't want to go that far ahead. I just want to try to get myself in the best shape as possible and put myself in a position to compete. And if I make the team, great. That's the goal. But so far, the priority is just be the best that you can be, so you can make the team."

A two-time All-Star with the Diamondbacks and then a key part of the Cubs' resurgence in 2015-16, Montero struggled through a difficult 2017 season. He hit .286 with an .805 OPS in 44 games as Willson Contreras' backup in Chicago, but labored behind the plate and rubbed some people the wrong way with his too-honest interviews. He wound up getting traded to the Blue Jays, where he hit a paltry .138 with a .489 OPS in 32 games.

"It was a rough year," he said. "But it wasn't bad. It was all right. You can't live in the past. You've got to move on. And I'm a guy that I never live in the past. I just live today and I figure it out tomorrow."

The Nationals are hoping the 34-year-old can enjoy a bounceback season; his contract isn't guaranteed, but if he makes the opening day roster, he'll have a $1.3 million salary with a chance to earn up to $1.7 million in incentives.

Montero is hoping to perform this spring at a level that convinces the club he's worth keeping at that salary.

"This life is a lot of ups and downs," he said. "A lot of times you fail more than you succeed. And you learn from it. It is what it is. I'm in a better place right now. I actually thought last year I had a chance to come here. It didn't happen. But I'm here now."