Possible catcher option for Cubs |
When you look at how the Chicago Cubs roster currently stands, barring any significant trade, it seems likely that they will run it back again. Considering how this team won 83 games in back-to-back seasons, it seems foolish for them to try not to improve their roster, but the realization is they don't have much flexibility.
Unless they plan to trade guys like Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, or Isaac Paredes, the Cubs don't have a ton of wiggle room when it comes to adding pieces, and that infuriates fans the most. No one should be off limits on this roster apart from Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ (no-trade) clauses, as teams who want to win do what it takes to win. One way the Cubs could improve their roster from a depth standpoint would be to bring in a veteran catcher or even a starting-caliber catcher to push Miguel Amaya into a backup role. Trading for Logan O'Hoppe or Shea Langiliers would be a massive get for the Cubs, but the realization of that happening is highly unlikely. The Cubs did have Christian Bethancourt on their roster, but after he elected to hit free agency last week, the Cubs are once again down to Amaya and no one else behind him at this point. Guys like Moises Ballesteros are coming, but given his defensive issues right now, he isn't ready to shoulder catching duties at the MLB, which doesn't bode well for this team. A new name added to the free agent pool not only has plenty of experience but also experience as both a starter and a back: Travis d’Arnaud. Some are wondering if he could be an option for this team. After the Braves declined his eight million dollar option, d'Arnaud instantly became one of the top, if not the top, catching options on the market, but at 35 years old, he isn't the youngest option out there. That shouldn't matter at this point as he is not only a proven MLB player but also someone who would bring a ton of value to the Cubs and improve them in one of the areas they need to improve. d'Arnaud isn't the best catcher on the market, but he brings with him a ton of experience and is coming off a very strong 2024 season. With Sean Murphy dealing with his share of injuries this season, d'Arnaud saw himself seeing more playing time than expected, and for the most part, he rewarded the Braves in a big way. From an average side of things, .238 isn't going to wow you, but for a guy who has historically hit in the mid-.240s, he was right around where you expected him to be. Over 99 games, he produced a respectable .238/.302/.436 slash line, contributing 15 home runs and a 103 wRC+ in 341 plate appearances. That performance ranked him just outside the top 10 catchers in terms of home runs despite fewer trips to the plate, and that is telling when you look at some of the catchers in today's game. Ever since parting ways with Willson Contreras, the Cubs have had a rocky go of things when it comes to adding catchers. They have tried their luck with Yan Gomes, Tucker Barnhardt, and most recently Amaya. Gomes had a great 2023 showing, but after falling off last season, it appears that Father Time has caught up to him. Amaya was in his first season as the starting catcher last year, and after struggling for three months, he managed to turn his season around in the second half. The Cubs are hopeful his second-half performance will carry over into this season, but given his lack of success in the running game, the Cubs do need an insurance policy if his inconsistency at the plate continues. d'Arnaud is one of those veterans who can give the Cubs an insurance policy, and a one—or two-year deal with him would certainly help this team. Looking back at his past three years, d'Arnaud has consistently produced, but his best showing was in 2022. In 2022, he posted a .268/.319/.472 slash line with an impressive 121 wRC+, contributing 18 home runs across 107 games. He had a down year in 2023 before bouncing back in 2024, so there is plenty left in his tank. Adding d'Arnaud to this team would give them plenty of catching depth and would add some offense to a team that could use more. No one is expecting him to produce at the level he did in 2022, but if he can produce close to the level he did last season, it would be a massive acquisition for this team.
