Diamondbacks considering trading Miguel Montero

The Diamondbacks are considering trading catcher Miguel Montero in order to create payroll flexibility, according to a report from Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. Rival executives have mentioned to Rosenthal that the team is "shopping" Montero, so they appear to be aggressive in their efforts to deal him.

Montero, 31, is owed $40 million through the 2017 season, so trading him would allow the D-Backs to reallocate some resources elsewhere. The backstop experienced his second consecutive down year in 2014, hitting only .243/.329/.370 with thirteen home runs and 72 RBI in 136 games, so Arizona may have to pitch in some salary relief in any deal involving him. Though it is currently unclear which teams would have interest in Montero on the trade market, he would probably be considered as an alternative for teams who fall out of the running in the Russell Martin sweepstakes.

The D-Backs don't have any immediate replacement options behind the plate, with backups Tuffy Gosewich and Jordan Pacheco as the only other catchers on the 40-man roster. They could pursue options like Nick Hundley, A.J. Pierzynski, Gerald Laird or Geovany Soto on the free agent market to bridge the gap before prospects Pete O'Brien and Stryker Trahan are major-league ready in two or three seasons.