Epstein: Cubs better off without 'bad teammate' Montero

The Chicago Cubs designated Miguel Montero for assignment on Wednesday after the catcher criticized teammate Jake Arrieta and the team's pitching staff for allowing the Washington Nationals to swipe seven bases against them Tuesday night.

Montero suggested Arrieta's slow delivery to the plate was partly responsible for the Nationals' success on the basepaths and didn't hold back about passing blame during a postgame interview.

''It really sucked because the stolen bases go to me, and when you really look at it, the pitcher doesn't give me any time,'' Montero said, according to The Associated Press. ''So it's just like, 'Yeah OK Miggy can't throw nobody out,' but my pitcher doesn't hold anybody on. ...

''That's the reason why they were running left and right today because they know he was slow to the plate. Simple as that. It's a shame that it's my fault because I didn't throw anybody out.''

Despite Montero apologizing to Arrieta, Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein explained that the catcher's words were uncalled for and were ultimately responsible for his DFA.

"When something goes wrong on the field we expect our players to take the blame, step up, and proactively assume the blame for it, even if it's not their fault," Epstein told ESPN's Jesse Rogers. "That's the way to be a good teammate. He completely agreed when it was pointed out to him and he apologized.

"After thinking about it some more, I just came to the conclusion that now more than ever we need to be a team. This was an example of being a bad teammate publicly and that we'd be better off moving on and not standing for it."

Montero thanked the Cubs and the city of Chicago in a series of tweets after he was designated, finishing his last tweet with the hashtag #WeAreGood.

The Cubs called up catcher Victor Caratini from Triple-A to take Montero's place on the roster.