(670 The Score) The trade market for Cubs catcher Willson Contreras has taken shape, barring a last-minute surprise.
The Padres, Guardians and Rays are the front-runners, Jon Heyman of the New York Post and Audacy Sports told the Mully & Haugh Show on Monday morning. The Astros and Mets also have expressed interest but appear likely to focus elsewhere, he said. The MLB trade deadline looms Tuesday at 5 p.m.
Contreras' destination probably won't be known until close to the deadline, as the sweepstakes for Nationals star outfielder Juan Soto are the initial focus of Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller. If the Padres can't land Soto, they'd likely turn their focus to Contreras and Cubs outfielder Ian Happ.
"The Padres are shooting for Juan Soto, obviously," Heyman said. "It feels like the Contreras-Happ option is kind of the fallback for them. I wouldn't bet against A.J. Preller, the GM out there, though. He's quite a riverboat gamble. Yup – Guardians, Rays. You know, the Astros are looking for a catcher, but I think they're looking more at a backup-type catcher. I think those are the teams. It felt like the Mets are more on (Red Sox catcher Christian) Vazquez than Contreras lately. But you know, it's like reading tea leaves. We thought (Luis) Castillo was going to be the Dodgers or Yankees and here come the Yankees. It's very unpredictable."
Contreras, 30, is set to become a free agent at season's end, and contract extension discussions with the Cubs failed to progress. He's hitting .252 with 14 homers, 38 RBIs and an .818 OPS in 86 games this season. He's a three-time All-Star.
"I just want this to be over," Contreras told reporters after the Cubs' 4-0 loss to the Giants on Sunday evening. "If they want to trade me, they want to trade me. If they don't want to trade me, then don't. But I just want this day to pass and keep focused on playing baseball."
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