The Willson Contreras-Chicago Cubs relationship has felt for a while now like it was headed for a divorce this year, and that remains the case inside of two months from the trade deadline.
Contreras is one of the top players at his position, one that lacks quality offensive options. And with so many catcher-needy teams, the 30-year-old could be an attractive option. He’s hitting .276 this season with a .916 OPS that leads all big league catchers by a substantial margin.
But he’s going to be a free agent this offseason, and the retooling Cubs seem unlikely to reach an extension with him. The offseason additions of Seiya Suzuki and Marcus Stroman show that the Cubs are willing to spend right now, but
Appearing Tuesday on 670 The Score’s “Mully and Haugh”, Audacy MLB Insider Bob Nightengale shot down any chance of a resolution.
“Yeah, I don’t see it happening,” Nightingale said of the two sides reaching an extension. “I think they’re just so far away. He wants to be paid as one of the top catchers in the game. We saw what (J.T.) Realmuto got, over $100 million, he’d like to have something close to that himself. He saw what Salvador Perez got. So I think he’s gone, for sure.
“It’s always possible something could happen in the offseason, but I think go ahead and trade him. If you want, you can always re-sign him in the offseason – I don't’ see that happening. Once a guy gets traded, a little bit like Jon Lester, it’s like OK I’m done now and I'm not coming back. But I think they could get a ton for Contreras, too many teams could use a great catcher like that. You look at the Houston Astros, their catching has been a nightmare but yet they’re still winning the division. So I think the Cubs hold out and trade this guy the last minute before the trade deadline, try to get as much as possible."
Should the Cubs trade Contreras, they have Yan Gomes (currently on the IL with a left oblique strain) signed through 2023 with a team option for 2024. That’s a perfectly fine stopgap, one that in an ideal world would bridge them from Contreras to top catching prospect Miguel Amaya, Chicago’s No. 15 overall prospect who currently is in Double-A.
Contreras has been with the Cubs his entire career, but it seems this impasse might be too great for them to get through together.
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