Cubs' Montero on trade from D-Backs: 'It was time for me to be somewhere else'

As the Arizona Diamondbacks struggle with their depth behind the plate, last year's starter couldn't be happier he's out of the desert.

In an effort to create some payroll flexibility, the Diamondbacks traded Miguel Montero and the remaining $40 million left on his contract to the Chicago Cubs in December.

"When I first heard the news I was really excited," Montero told Scott Bordow of azcentral. "It was time for me to be somewhere else."

Montero spent nine seasons in Arizona, with the team reaching the postseason just once in the last seven years. 

"It was difficult," Montero said. "When you go out and compete and you don't have a chance, it's tough. It wears on you pretty quick. Mentally it will get you tired really quick. I think that's something that happened to me."

The Diamondbacks planned to deploy the inexperienced tandem of Tuffy Gosewisch and Oscar Hernandez this season, though Hernandez suffered a fractured hand this week and is expected to miss the next six-to-eight weeks. 

While Arizona attempts to figure out what to do with their catching situation, Montero admits he hasn't paid much attention to his former team. 

"They're a little far away from the potential of winning. Maybe I'm wrong. But here I think it's a better place. It's different. I don't want to take anything away from the guys over there but I've been catching a lot of guys over here and you actually get excited because they have electric stuff. Not that I didn't catch that a little bit over there but in reality I didn't see much of it.

"We have more of a chance to win."