The Marlins have had discussions with the Cubs about catcher Willson Contreras, according to SportsGrid’s Craig Mish (Twitter link). There isn’t any sense that a trade might be close, as Mish describes the situation as “very fluid” considering how “the Cubs have big decisions to make across the board” (namely, trade talks involving several of their veteran players).
As you might expect, Contreras has been a key figure in these talks, as the Angels and multiple other teams have inquired about the backstop’s services. It stands to reason that pretty much any team with a need behind the plate has at least checked in on Contreras, and Miami’s interest hints that even teams who seemed to have a catching option in place are interested in Contreras as an upgrade.
2020 was a tough season for Jorge Alfaro, acquired as part of the J.T. Realmuto trade package in February 2019 and immediately tabbed as Miami’s next catcher of the future. After hitting decently well in 2019, Alfaro’s numbers took a significant step backwards in the shortened 2020 season, to the point that the Marlins turned to Chad Wallach as their regular catcher in the playoffs so the club could at least get some defensive stability out of the position.
The Marlins also recently signed Sandy Leon to a minor league deal and re-signed Brian Navarreto for further depth, indicating some desire on Miami’s part to address its catching mix. Acquiring Contreras would obviously be a much more seismic move, and it seems possible that Alfaro could be part of a hypothetical trade package heading to Chicago. Catcher Miguel Amaya is one of the Cubs’ top prospects but has yet to play above high-A ball, so Alfaro wouldn’t necessarily be blocking Amaya’s progress. Alfaro is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter and is controlled through the 2023 season.
Contreras, meanwhile, has two arbitration seasons left and is projected to earn between $5MM-$7.4MM for the 2021 season. It’s a very reasonable price for one of the sport’s better overall catchers, a two-time All-Star who continued to post solid (.243/.356/.407 in 225 PA) hitting and framing numbers last season. Landing such a productive player on short-term control would be a fit for any team, but particularly a Marlins organization that is starting to stretch its payroll a bit as the Fish have become competitive. After acquiring Starling Marte at the trade deadline and exercising his $12.5MM option for 2021, Miami has yet to swing any major moves this winter, mostly focusing on lower-level bullpen additions.
I didn’t see the Blue Jays mentioned anywhere in this article,WTH! You know they’re “In” on him too.
You did
I’m wondering if the Blue Jays are in on James Harden and did he decide to put them on his preferred trade destinations list?
Jed will sell for Wallach and a bag of circus peanuts. Wonder if we can get the home run statue back in the deal
Is Tim Wallach available? That would probably be more like it.
Contreras for Alfaro, Yamamoto/Rogers, and a minor leaguer sounds plausible
I’m thinking Alfaro, Yammamoto, and one of the younger OFs.
So crap, crap, and not Bleday.
Man…I’m a huge Marlins advocate but those players are all garbage. Alfaro can’t hit or catch. Yamamoto might have been the worst pitcher in baseball all of last year. He was absolutely torched and numbers aside, his pure stuff just looked like complete junk last year. He might have the lowest floor out of any pitcher in their top 30 right now. And it pains me to say this, but the majority of their high profile outfielders have all looked terrible as well. Brinson? No. Harrison? No. Sanchez? He looked LOST and his minor league career has been average so far. And the other guys have barely played any games in the minors to have much trade value. They’re gonna have to part with at least one painful prospect here to get this guy. Not that junk….
Sales the club Ricketts it to much for your family in a recession
Contreras can pull in at least 3 players. There’s no where jed is dumb enough to accept that horrible trade like that. The Marlins have no one good to give the cubs. The best thing is to keep Contreras and extend him before the 2023 season. Other than pitching the cubs priority is to extend Baez and Rizzo.
I could see the Marlins making this move actually. They certainly have the pieces to make it happen!
I was thinking this ever since the rumors about Contreras started. He’d be a good fit with the Marlins right now and going forward.
Contreras for
Package A:
Jorge Alfaro, Braxton Garrett, Nick Neidhart and Jesus Sanchez (or Conner Scott)… who says no?
Package B: Alfaro, Edward Cabrera, Isan Diaz, low A prospect.
If I’m the Marlins, I say no to both packages. Contreras is an obvious upgrade over Alfaro, especially if we’re looking at just last year. But giving up Cabrera shouldn’t be an option and I don’t think they’d give up as much as you have in Package A. I’d say Alfaro, Sanchez, and Neidert could get it done.
Only problem is Contreras is cost affordable for the next two years and one of few all star catchers. I could see the Alfaro, Sanchez, Neidhart package if Marlins add a lower level prospect with potential. Cubs don’t necessarily HAVE to trade Contreras. Bryant on the other hand, is more of a priority for them to trade which clears a ton of salary off their books.
The cubs need more meat than Alfaro, Sanchez and Neidert.
Marlins aren’t desperate for this trade. Contreras is a great fit and obvious upgrade, but let’s not think they’ll give up the farm for him when they are still rebuilding and could easily let Alfaro have another shot.
Well obviously they aren’t desperate but eventually they’ll need to patch holes to become a contending team.. catcher is the most glaring hole they have right now.
The real question is can we even afford to keep him after these next 2 years….. honestly we got screwed trading Trevor to the rays, and that marte trade honestly was dumb.
Idk why we don’t stick to the plan & keep stock piling prospects and let them develop.
Contreras would be a fine upgrade for the Marlins. At this point, the Cubs might as well go all-in on a rebuild. Yes, they can win in the very weak NL Central, but they’re not true contenders. If Ricketts isn’t willing to spend the money to fill the holes on that roster (and they can’t really fill them from their relatively weak farm system, either via trade or promotion), then it seems to be a waste of time and money to keep some of the guys when they could bring back some prospects. Time will tell on the Darvish trade, but I suspect they got hosed. Hopefully, if they deal some of their other pieces, they’ll get back closer to fair value.
Translation: The Marlins know that the Angels are getting deeper into talks with the Cubs, and they feel jealous. Now they want to spark a small convo just to see the price, and then throw a bad trade proposal to the Cubs which then gets refused and they never talk about it again.
What makes you think that? No one has stated angels talks have gone anywhere substantial
They also haven’t stated that Angels talks have diminished. Unlike the Marlins, they don’t have a league average-slightly below average catcher to hold up the majority of their work right now (Stassi is a backup despite his great 2020). Unlike the Marlins, they have tons of money ready to spend and prospects ready to let loose of that won’t sink or float the standing of their future. The Marlins may have money to spend, but giving up some of their prospect capital could be a huge hit to a franchise like this. Unlike the Marlins, the Angels are more desperate for good pickups and competitive moves with the addition on Minisian to their staff.
I may not have concrete evidence as to why I think this way, but I have reasoning behind it.
Angels are 30 million under the luxury tax and have yet to address their massive pitching needs. I wouldnt say they have a ton of money to spend.
Translation: you just made all of that up, you actually have nothing to base any of that on.
If the cubs are actually blowing it up, why would they want Alfaro? He’ll be on his way out before they’re good again. And his type of hitting profile scares me.
He’s not that good, which actually helps a tanking team, and he’d be out before they’re good again, so they could give the job to someone else.
Why would you want that in a trade for one of your most valuable pieces? Just sign a cheap catcher, it’s not like they’ll even cost that much more.
Helps save face that they got a major league catcher with upside and past success, if he rebounds they can flip him too.
Alfaro would be cheaper since he’s still in his arb years, since he’s done nothing he won’t be granted much money. But he’s frequently injured so not sure if he’s even worth the arb price
If you trade away Willson, getting someone that your average fan has never heard of isn’t going to save face.
Unless Miami is just tossing him in, again, I wonder why you’d take someone like that as part of the return you’re getting. If you’re gonna trade him, do it for pieces you think have a chance to be contributors in 3 (or whenever you’re planning that next window to be) years, not people you hope might rebound so you can then flip them.
Maybe the Marlins and Red Sox could work out a package for Christian Vasquez and Benintendi.
At what point do Cubs fans storm their front office like the Capitol?
Absolutely. It’s getting ridiculous. The Cubs have to be… What Top-3 brands/teams in earning potential in all of baseball, but Tricky Ricketts is crying poor? Nonsense. This has nothing to do with Covid either. He’s using that as an excuse to gut the team, line his pockets, and get out. He was never a fan, another business man that saw an opportunity to “Flip This Team” and make lots of $$$ while doing it. So much for wanting these guys around for a generation. I wonder when David Ross wakes up and realizes he got tricked.
Too soon.
Giving up on Alfaro already? Does this make the Realmuto trade slightly better? I know Sixto looks great, but I guess it depends on if he can maintain some success.
Yes, we’ve given up on Alfaro.
Contreras for Sanchez both players need a change.
I think Willson probably has more value than Gary Sanchez.
Why does Contreras need a change? He’s hardly struggling.
Alfaro wasn’t the centerpiece of that deal. If the Marlins trade him, the trade isn’t a loss on them because Sixto was the main piece. But if it makes Philly hurt a little less, then so be it.
The only two ways it’s not a bust for Philly is if Sixto gets hurt beyond repair, underperforms mightily or if they don’t resign Realmuto.
I mean the Phillies got two real good years of Realmuto. Sixto is TBD, but looks great so far. To me the extension doesn’t impact the trade at all. Phillies traded for those 2 years.
He was a pretty decent hitter for a catcher in 2018 and 2019 having a 95 wRC+, but wasn’t that great of a fielder at a position you’d like to have a good glove at.
Sixto looks like the real deal and realamuto might be on his way out the door. That trade looks very good for the Marlins right now.
I compare the Contreras situation to the Realmuto one two years ago. The team who trades for Contreras is getting two years of control and a top 5 catcher in the game. Realmuto was a same situation. So I think a similar package to what the Phillies gave up for Realmuto is what to expect the Marlins to give up. The Phillies gave up their number one prospect (Sixto Sanchez), Alfaro who was a highly thought of catching prospect, and a throw in pitching prospect. I think a trade package of Alfaro, Max Meyer, and Jorge Guzman for Contreras is comparable to what the Marlins got for Realmuto, and a fair deal.
Realmuto had been way better than Contreras before he got traded….. like it was no contest he was the best catcher in baseball. I really want the marlins to pass on this.
So the Cubs are dumping salary and the Marlins are the buyers…
What is wrong with this picture?
I wish Hoyer would at least explain what his plans our at this point. It looks like a full on rebuild but if that’s the case why add Davies to the Darvish deal? Just grab another prospect and sign 3 crap starters to one year deals.
Davies is set to make ~7m, the Padres may have added him in part to offset some of the Darvish money.
Cubs don’t need Alfaro, they have Amaya, a top 100 prospect. They need a SP, CF or LF. I don’t see a deal here
Amaya hasn’t played above A-ball. He’s nowhere near MLB-ready
He is on a Cub team aiming to finish below the Pirates.
You do realize the Marlins might be the deepest team in all of baseball as far as overall pitching and outfield prospects, right?
If the Cubs can snag a couple top notch pitching prospects, then sure, make the trade. It seems like it makes the most sense to just extend Contreras. He’s young, not a lot of mileage behind the plate, and is probably in the top 5 at his position. He’s a sure thing; the prospects the Cubs might receive back will not be (nor is Amaya, his eventual successor). Just tack on 4-5 years to his current deal and build around him. If anything, use Amaya eventually as part of a package for a young, controllable pitcher.
Contreras should get a 5-6 year offer right now. Then cubs could use a couple of their 56 catching prospects as trade bait. Contreras might be the best catcher in the mlb next 3-4 years. I completely agree
I’ve been wrong all off-season regarding the Cubs but I think if you are going to trade Contreras, it has to be for a potentially franchise altering package.
I think the Rays for Brujan, Kiemerier, Zunino, either Baz, McClanahan or Wilcox plus one more would be that type of trade. I think with the “bad money” the Cubs would take back in return it should be a guy like Honeywell but that might be a bit too optimistic.
As for the Marlins, I think the conversation has to start with Max Meyer and probably include Cabrera also.
Cabrera is a perfect example of a international amateur signing that blossomed into a top 100 prospect (what the Cubs hope will happen with a couple of the guys from the Yu Darvish trade)
How much fun would it be if the Marlins decided to do something to add to the team? And not just 1 or 2 small pieces but actually go for it? What if they would get to a $100 MM payroll? If they take on all off salary they have a shot at making this deal work without giving up their biggest prospects:
Marlins get: Contreras, Bryant
Cubs get: Alfaro, Sierra, Sanchez, Yamamoto, Fulton
I believe the Cubs are willing to take a quantity over quality type package to shed some salary; getting some fringe starters in Alfaro and Sierra, some B-type prospects in Sanchez and Yamamoto and a highly regarded pitcher in Fulton
I would take this trade in a heartbeat if I was Miami if Cubs willing to eat some of Bryant’s salary.
If the Cubs take that for a package of WilCon & KB… Wrigley is gonna make the Capitol look like a Sunday picnic. It’s a GREAT deal for the Fish.
Cubs may consider a couple high upside prospects for Bryant but not Contreras. If the Marlins really pry Contreras away from the Cubs, it’s going to a package that hurts and hurts bad.
I imagine Alfaro would be included in any trade.
Of course he will, by Jorge!
Hoyer the Destroyer
I’m confused. Why are the marlins doing this. If they extend him I’d understand. But they aren’t close to the top 2 teams.
Marlins front office is reds 2.0
So they should just give up? I don’t get your logic. This moves makes them better. Upsets happen every season. Good teams on paper sometimes falter. If they can win more games, that’s great.
They should wait more years before going out and trading their prospects. Not give up. There is a difference.
Cubs are dumping salary. They may not have to give up as much as you’d think.
Contreras will be entering his age-28 season. That’s part of what’s behind this. He is young enough to be part of their upcoming future as he transitions into the veteran catcher.
Marlins will not take on Bryant’ s salary , Cubs are looking for quality not quantity when dealing Contreras but might include Alfaro in deal to help Marlins with money, my guess is your looking at maybe one of Cabrera,or Meyer , Plus Garrett @ Outfielder with Cubs adding young prospect
Marlins will not be letting go of Cabrera or Meyers in any deal for Contreras.
Something more like Garrett Or Rogers, Misner, or Scott and Alfaro.
If you say Garrett & Hernandez plus Misner then you can keep Alfaro
I’d move KB over Contreras 100 times over. Rizzo is the unquestioned team leader, but Contreras, along with Baez, are the glue. KB isn’t going to sign an extension with Bor-ASS as his agent. I’d trade KB to Red Sox for Benintendi and prospects Bobby Dalbec and Noah Song.
As a Cub fan I am all in on trading Contreras for prospects. Sign 2 platoon catchers and let the young guys develop.
Contreras + cash for Alfaro + Meyer/Bleday?
You’re not getting Bleday for Contreras.
Why? Has Bleday shown anything at all?
C Willson Contreras for RHP Edward Cabrera, OF Peyton Burdick and Jorge Alfaro C
You’re not likely to get Cabrera for Contreras. Burdick, I’m not sure about. He might be in play depending on how he’s viewed by both sides.
No Bleday
No Cabrera
Otherwise get Contreras!
Bleday is exactly what I would offer for Contreras, along with Alfaro.
You know the package you got for Realmuto… it’s going to be similar for Contreras. That was a top 25 prospect, a top 65 prospect, a well regarded organizational top 30 prospect and slot money.
Otherwise, forget Contreras!
If you’re the Marlins the only two guys they should be discussing are JT and Contreras. They need a catcher bad and it’s the only position where they are obviously exposed with no prospect depth or anything. But for this trade to happen they would need 1) To make sure they can extend him and 2) Make sure the extension is significantly less that they would have to pay JT. Because if not then they might as well go after JT. They could easily afford him with the new tv deal, lack of big contracts moving forward and Chen’s crap 20 million/year deal finally off the books. Question is if they’re willing to. Most likely not. But he’s the guy I’d be gunning for as it would fit in nicely with their run prevention scheme and very high ceiling pitching staff.
Bro aint too many guys wanna sign to miami long term until they do a bit more. They are taking a huge risk here, we can’t afford to be giving up prospects. Although we are deep in the farm, other than sixto who seems to be the real deal, NONE of our prospects showed anything in 2021… so Diaz, jazz, monte,brison all flopped. This team has alot of holes and question marks. Granted I expect some of these guys to do better in the future.
Yes, but the issue is this isn’t a position they can fill with high caliber talent just anytime they want. These types of talents are very rarely available. And it’s the only position they have zero talent at. They at least have options everywhere else that may or may not develop.
If it was Bryant and Contreras with the Cubs eating 1/2 of Bryant’s deal.
Sixto would have to be the centerpiece. Not a garbage catcher. He is ok as a back fill down grade like Davies was. But he should never be considered a center piece.
Outside of that the other Sanchez would be fine as a 2nd piece. The Cubs need to replace Schwarber and he would fill that need.
But if we are not talking a impact talent centering the deal for 2 all star calaber players then nothing to see here.
Marlins wouldn’t trade sixto by himself For Bryant Contreras and Rizzo.
Cubs would trade either one of those guys for 2 or 3 of a teams 5 through 20 prospects.
Contreras and Happ for Bleday, Braxton Garrett, and Jerar Encarnacion.