Catcher Yan Gomes has agreed to a two-year, $13MM deal to join the Chicago Cubs, pending a physical. The contract contains a $6MM option for a third year, as well as $1MM in performance bonuses available each year based on games started. Gomes is a client of Jet Sports Management.
Gomes was on the free agent market two years ago and signed a two-year deal with the Nationals that came with a $10MM guarantee. After a decent showing over those two seasons, including a trade to Oakland at this year’s trade deadline, Gomes entered this year’s market as arguably the best backstop available. Over the past two campaigns, Gomes played 133 games, hitting 18 home runs and slashing .260/.306/.432. When combined with solid defensive numbers, he produced 1.8 fWAR in that time. Now the 34-year-old has beaten his previous contract by $3MM. He also beats MLBTR’s prediction that he would get the same $10MM guarantee as his last trip to free agency.
Gomes is a veteran of ten seasons between the Blue Jays, Guardians, Nationals and Athletics. His best showing came in 2013-2014 with Cleveland, where his combination of potent offence and excellent defence led to him producing 9.4 fWAR over those two seasons. He hit 32 home runs and slashed .284/.325/.476, adding up to a wRC+ of 121. He followed that up with a couple of rough seasons in 2015 and 2016, partially because of a serious shoulder injury, but has since bounced back to be a solid regular over the past five seasons.
Gomes joins a Cubs team that already has a starting catcher in the form of Willson Contreras, who was one of the few long-standing Cubs to survive the team’s recent fire sale. They sent most of the remaining household names from their 2016 World Series championship club out the door at the trade deadline this year, including Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo, along with more recent additions to the club such as Craig Kimbrel and Ryan Tepera. Contreras, however, remains with the team, despite being just one season away from free agency.
The addition of Gomes seems to raise the specter of Contreras being the next guy out the door, and Contreras himself might even agree, as he tweeted a series of emojis showing a plane taking off and landing, perhaps implying that he is about to embark on a journey. Given the thin catching market, Contreras should be a hot commodity if he is indeed shopped around on the trade market. The 29-year-old, 30 in May, has been an above-average hitter in each of his six seasons so far, along with contributing on the defensive side of his game. In 621 career games, he has 95 home runs and has hit .259/.349/.458, for a wRC+ of 114 and 12.0 fWAR.
Craig Mish of SportsGrid first reported the two-year deal with a $13MM guarantee. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic first relayed the $6MM option for a third year and the $1MM annual performance bonuses.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Does this mean they are gonna trade Contreras?
Contreras for Frazier and Andujar?
That’s way too much. Maybe the Yankees will sign Clint Frazier to a minor league deal and then deal him to the Cubs for Contreras.
Why would the Cubs trade for someone they can sign out right!
Some screwball missed the joke.
Gbs42, did you really say that Andujar and a player Yankees have DFAed is too much to trade to get Willson Contreras?
Gbs42, did you really say that Andujar and a player Yankees have DFAed is too much to trade to get Willson Contreras?
Include Refsnyder in the package and we got a deal.
Idk man if the Yankees can get Johnny Giavotella out of retirement and sign him to a kiln deal they might be able to land themselves Juan Soto.
The joke is dated ! Assuming they tender Sanchez today the new joke is gonna be Sanchez and Torres for your best player like Juan Soto lol
^ Not to you but in general And check the news for any saux fans! When you mock rob refsnyder your team inevitably ends up signing him to a minor league deal lol
No.
Maybe the Yankees can get Chicago to give up Contreras & Hendricks for the usual Sanchez, Andujar “package” suggestion.
Cubs would have to add Brennen Davis to get that deal to work, if I were the Yankees you might be able to squeeze Cristen Hernandez too.
How about Gallo and Sanchez for Contreras, Heyward, Hendricks and some dirty socks.
That is a fair shake.
No, it means that they can rid themselves of the half dozen stiff backups that they had last year.
Probably.
Interesting that the signing came before the trade.
Can’t imagine a scenario where they have both on the roster. Bold strategy to sign the top FA catcher thus putting your own catcher in higher demand
Why would they trade contreras? Games is the backuo.
Easy. To get a premier near mlb ready headliner prospect since decent offensive C are scarce. Your FO probably looking ahead to ’23 to sign FA’s that don’t include what will be a very expensive to retain Contreras for post-prime catching years. May as well stockpile more young talent ahead of returning to relevance.
100%
What about Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes? I think it’s finally time they moved.
Cubs only have 1 healthy catcher on 40 man
Two now
True. I am just saying the signing made sense especially with the free agent options and no help in the minors.
Yes. He’s as good as gone.
Yes! Yankees getting Contreras?! Please?
No. Obviously Gomes us the back up.
@billybaggs
And you really think Ricketts is willing to spend $6.5M a year, on a backup catcher? Really? Yes they had to get a backup catcher (or two), but it’s not likely Ricketts willingly spent that much on a backup, when there are so many other needs. Why would he do that, and NOT spend $16M a year to sign Jon Gray or $9M for one year for Kluber?
What would you rather have as a back-up? Any of the 5 that cycled through the 2021 season? Or a decent catcher that you would have to pay 6.5 mil as a back up?
I don’t think Chicago can handle another year of Romine. I don’t think I can either.
Sadly I think they went through 7 backups.
Because for pitching they’d rather get Cole Hamel or Jason Hammel or try their luck with Arrieta again.lol. Why would they dowbgrade at catcher? Especially when their top catching prospects is down for the year.
What’s the point about Ricketts willing to spend money? Haven’t they had a payroll around $200M for seven straights season and didn’t they put about a BILLION dollars of their own money into the ballpark and surrounding area. $6.5 million for an area of need seems like pocket change.
Too many people think they are irresponsible for signing someone like Heyward and when they try to be responsible with their own money people likewise complain.
What in Kluber’s medical records are you seeing in the past three years that makes him a $9M a year pitcher???
Yeah, it’s not their money, its the fans money. The fans are the ones paying for the product and if the product is garbage no one will pay. This isn’t your granpa’s cubs fan base. People are not going to show up for a garbage team anymore.
Kluber has a higher ceiling as a former CybYoung winner. Gomes is an aged catcher—they overspent on his projected salary and that’s gonna suck if they make him catcher. Contreras should be a Cub for life, should be given a contract that he deserves and to continue with backups from farm at a lower cost. That they signed Gomes indicates trying to sell Contreras. This FO is showing so afar to be what was feared—putting a shorty product on the field in hopes that the scraps that they give time to overplay their contracts. And they’re banking on a middling ranked farm system to do what—somehow be better than the tremendously better farm systems.
Yup
Lol Frazier signed with the cubs
Smart signing. And yes, Cubs may trade Contreras and Gomes by summer trade deadline.
Sure didn’t expect this. Goodbye, Contreras, most likely.
No right now (until this signing) the Cubs did not have a backup catcher. Their only other one on 40 man is going in for TJ surgery, and won’t play in ‘22. Not a bad pickup honestly.
Contreras headed to the Yanks?
I know every Yankee fan in the world hates Gary Sanchez, but despite what they will all believe, Contreras isn’t that big of an upgrade over him. In fact, you could make the argument, that Sanchez’s ceiling far surpasses Contreras’s.
You could make that argument, but you’d be 100% wrong. Contreras is an all star level player. Sanchez could be non-tendered.
Sanchez’s defense simply cannot be tolerated any longer. You can’t win a championship with atrocious defense behind the dish. Catcher is a position where you have to prioritize defense over offense. Sanchez needs to go somewhere that he can be a full time DH.
The two could be comparable offensively. But Contreras can actually catch.
Sort of.
They actually have very similar defensive values grades according to Fangraphs for what it’s worth. I don’t know how much stock I put into it, but obviously something that Sanchez does defensively provides enough value to keep him afloat. I’d guess it’s his control of the run game. He has one of the best arms and pop times of all catchers in the MLB.
They’re really pretty comparable. Both are very sub-par defensively. Sanchez has more power, Contreras will get on base more. And both are free agents after this year.
It seems like most of their high level catching prospects (Wells and Breaux) will follow this offense first/defense last approach, unless Antonio Gomez turns into their catcher of the future. But none of those guys will probably be ready for a full time role until 2024 at the earliest.
I wonder if the Yanks could pull a trade for someone like Mitch Garver to bridge the gap to those guys. Stallings would have been a great add yesterday, surprised they didn’t go for that (although as a Red Sox fan, I’m not complaining).
I should say, Contreras is average defensively, nowhere near as bad as Sanchez. But I don’t think he’s the answer in New York. But I can see them trading for him.
I mean…. Sanchez had 2 more homers last year…with a 0.7 war, while Contreras had 4.1
But for me, it’s all about PB and WP. Contreras has 31 passed balls in his career and 180 wild pitches.
Sanchez has 60 passed balls and 222 wild pitches.
Lol what
lol no you can’t. Sanchez is the worst defensive catcher in baseball and defense is hugely important at catcher. Contreras is worlds better defensively (even though hes more good than great defensively) and if Sanchez’s last 2 years are any indication Contreras is better offensively too. There’s no comparison.
Except that Contreras is actually a catcher. Gary Sanchez might have a future as a DH or 1B somewhere
CJIK: Alrhough you’re correct about their comparability (offensively), and Sancho’s ceiling, he has yet to reach it or come close. Moreover, Contreras’ defense far surpasses that of Sanchez. Not every Yankees fan hates Sanchez, although it seems that way – it’s more that we want a solid catcher and not one who hurts us in O and D.
Problem with the defensive grades is that you must look at the breakdown of categories. Sanchez gets credit for non-defensive-related categories.
I’d say it’s closer to 75/25….
I love when people talk about a player’s ceiling… You have no idea what that is and neither do I. They have talent and abilities, what they are doing right now is what matters, ceiling is a ridiculous crystal ball fabrication.
It would make a lot of sense. The Yankees don’t seem to want to sign FA’s before the looming CBA expiration/situation is resolved. So, trades seem to be their M.O. right now.
Texas would be a good spot I’d think for a Contreras trade?
Tempting for Texas, I’m sure… however what does Texas have to give in return?
With the Cubs recent track record, I don’t see them paying 6.5 AAV to a backup catcher, so yeah I think this is a sign that Contreras will be traded.
That sound you hear is the value of any return the Cubs get in a Contreras trade dripping off of a cliff. Before they could consider trading him, now they almost have to… unless of course the trader is already lined up.
Not true at all. The Cubs now own two of the better starting catching options available. How’s that diminish Contreras’ market?
getright—what am i missing–when did Gomes become a starting catching option, let alone one of the “better” ones? He’s had 400 plate appearances only twice in his career.
The FA market is nearly devoid of catcher options, and with many teams going to a more even split of catching duties between two players, Gomes could be seen as the heavier side of a platoon, maybe something like a 60-40 split.
The Cubs could deal Contreras for prospects from a team desperate for catching help and sign a cheap #2 catcher to get them through their “retooling” (which is just the new word for rebuilding).
hopefully Contreras is gone. He kills us
The chances that Contreras becomes a Yankees is non existence. I’m will be shocked if Sanchez is non tendered today. If Yankees wanted Sanchez gone he would be already. Cashman waiting for the last minute for everything. Yankees continue to act out of desperation. Yankees probably get Story because he’s the last one left.
Correa is still out there…
No Correa! No, no, no!
Please bring in Contreras!
It’s about time. One of Jeds top priorities this offseason was getting a capable backup for Contreras. Gomes frees up alot of DH days for Wilson also. Not being overused behind the dish should greatly help him at the dish.
I like your optimism, but I fear this means Willy will be traded.
Smart move, gives them a current trade trip but also with how weak the current catching crop is, gives them a chance to flip Gomes this year or next to a contender.
Good move all around by the Cubs, I expect more of these types of deals.
This ought to help make the cubs mediocre.
The cards have been mediocre for 2 decades. It happens.
Last 2 decades. 5 World Series appearances 2 World Championships 16 playoff appearances. Yeah mediocre.
I guess it’s only been a half decade of mediocre. It seems longer though.
The 2011 world series they were the WC as well.
2 century’s of mediocre for the cubs!
Well. Maybe not quite that much. They have been pretty good since new ownership. We will see how it plays out the next couple decades.
That’s what they’ve always said. Wait till next year. Now it’s wait till the next couple of decades.
Not what I said at all. Being a life long cubs fan these last 6-7 years have been phenomenal. Last year not great. They have been better than the Cards by pretty much any metrics over that time span. I thing going forward they have a great chance of being better than the Cardinals. Cardinals no doubt have been historically good but the cubs have caught up quickly. You can trash them all you want but they have put in place a smart front office and an owner that proved he will spend. I wouldn’t be surprised if the cubs are the better organization over the next several decades just like the past 6-7 years.
I can’t stop laughing at how “good” you think the chubs are. NEVER will you watch the Cardinal’s tank for 108 years so they can win ONE World Series, then fall back to mediocrity. The Cardinal’s won’t win every year, but they also will not lie down and field a garbage team just to acquire draft picks. praise your chubs all you want, they’re just another garbage tanking team. I can NOT wait until MLB ends tanking. But alas we have Rob Braindead at the helm, so it may need to wait until the next commissioner.
You’re a dope
Yeah, the Cardinals will just cheat their way to victory. That and because they are a “small market” team, they get supplemental picks. What a joke. The Cardinals are a gross franchise, run by cheaters, and destined to do nothing ever again.
Jealousy lol
Not sure how so many have figured that Willy is gone now that they signed Gomes? One serious area of need was a back up catcher. Thats now done. If the DH comes to the NL it should free up Wily so he doesn’t get worn out behind the plate. Now they haven’t done squat to address pitching, so we got that going for us. Wily might be traded or mught not. None of us know and time will tell
I like your thinking for Willson to DH when he isn’t catching. Assuming they don’t trade him.
Haven’t done squat for pitching? They stole Wade Miley from the Reds. Still need more, but that’s a good start.
At least they got the best something on the FA market. After management saying they would be significantly involved in the FA/trade market this off-season, it’s been looking like just the opposite. Of course when asked about whether they had a plan moving forward after trading almost all of their core away last year, Hoyer said “we’ll have to figure that out” meaning day to day, no real overarching plan. This is what we have as management.
Twitter already has Willy traded to no less than 5 teams. It could happen, but this signing doesn’t make it happen.
I think this may change little. Cubs will try to extend Contreras to a team friendly deal. If that fails, they will deal him by trade deadline. Contreras is a better defender than Sanchez. Period. There are at least a dozen teams that would want Contreras. On a team like the Cubs in 2022 – and I say this as a Cubs’ fan – the backup catcher can DH if the NL gets one.
Now if the Padres want to part with Hassell or the Braves want to part with Waters, it will get done. I just those teams may roll with what they have got for now.
If they somehow extend Contreras, it can always be Gomes who is flipped.
Manny, you’re a better defender than Sanchez and I doubt that you’ve caught a single professional inning.
I could not catch as well as Sanchez, but maybe even Rizzo could.
They need to extend Willson. Why would they flip Gomes when he’s now the backup?
The emoji whisperer.
that’s Didi Gregorious
Angels should pick up the phone. Offer the Cubs some young talent for their rebuild in exchange for Contreras. Ask about Hendricks while they are at it.
Oh sure, and ask for the bat racks and the clubhouse doors while they’re at it…
There’s going to be more crickets than fans in Wrigleyville thanks to the cheapskate Ricketts family.
I’m betting this ups the return for Contreras in a trade since Gomes was the best free agent catcher
Cubs need to extend Contreras, not trade him.
He’s fine defensively, big arm, can play left field and first base, good power, plays with an edge, decent speed. And can DH. I think he has a lot of value. And Amaya is now on the shelf.
Thank you. Both Willie and Yan can technically be in the lineup too. Only if they sign a 3rd catcher.
Is he a veteran of the Guardians or the Indians? Did Bob Feller achieve greatness with the Indians or Guardians?
as much as I’ll maintain retroactive name changing isnt how it works, the point remains the same. he played for the francise that now bears the name “Guardians”.
Did that happen with guys who played for TB when they were still the Devil Rays?
Gomes never played for the Guardians…
Yan Gomes never played for the Guardians…
He’s so woke that he calls a team by their name? Wow, what a commie!
Do you call them Cassius Clay and Lew Alcindor too because their name changes are too “woke” for you? Is that some clown stuff?
I am a strong believer that it was time to change the name of the Redskins, Indians and Braves. And the Tomahawk Chop needs to go. But even I have no problem with saying a player played their career for the Indians. Or say Cleveland but guardians. Ted Williams played for the Senators not the Twins.
Managed not played.
Walter Johnson did not play for the Twins. Frazier is now a Cub and Sanchez non-tendered.
This is why some MLBTR writers are referring to players like Gomes as having played for Cleveland, not the Indians or the Guardians. Kowtowing to the comment section mob. Trying not to offend the guardians of the former name.
All jokes aside, it’s a little different when a team changes cities and names. Jimme Foxx was an Athletic just like Miguel Tejada was. But did Kirby Puckett and Walter Johnson play for the same team? Or Vlad Guerrero and Juan Soto?
Contreras will be getting traded to the Yankees.
Let’s also remember that Miguel Amaya had Tommy John surgery and is out for at least next season if not beyond. He wasn’t necessarily trending upwards anyways, but can certainly be removed from the Cubs top prospect list.
Why is everyone saying Contreras is gone? Gomes will be the backup
Answer: because they are going to trade him. Stay tuned, watch this space.
They may trade both if the return is good enough.
I’m surprised Gomes wasn’t able to get slightly more $, considering he was one of the very few average-to slightly above average overall catchers on the market. Nice snag by the Cubs.
Agreed. Gomes is solid but the FA market is pretty slim for catchers, so I thought he would get a little more.
Contreras and Alzolay to San Diego for Yu Darvish and Caratini.
Good joke.
Hahaha! Funny
Gomes played for Indians, the Guardians didn’t exist. Was Bob Feller a Guardian too?
Doesn’t mean trade Willy. Jed said a priority was getting him days out from behind the dish. That he is an elite offensive player if his legs are not gone. This is because of Amaya surgery. Mostly likely outcome for him at this point is a year out, a year in minors, then a possible backup in year 3. I expect Wilson to extend, Gomes to catch about half the games or more with Wilson DING. Then in 24 season Amaya takes Gomes spot.
I’m in complete shock the Yankees refuse to upgrade the same team that’s done nothing in the last several years
Gomes never played with the guardians. Gomes played with the Indians.
Is it too pc to not even say Fred Mcgriff played with the rays (excluding the word DEVIL)
Roy Campanella never played with the Brooklyn dodgers.
It was the los angels dodgers.
A city is not the same as a team name.
Did Cassius Clay beat Joe Frazier? Did Lew Alcindor win the 1971 NBA Finals, not Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?
Gomes never played for the guardians
IF Gomes is in fact a backup C for the Cubs, and the Yankees missed out on the best available FA catcher (my opinion), there is something seriously wrong.
They’ve clearly missed gaping holes to fill and watched talent get plucked one by one. Maybe it’ll turn out Cashman is a genius for waiting, and if so, I’ll gladly admit it, but it sure seems we are pigeon-holing ourselves right back into the 2021 roster with no improvements of consequence.
well, if you twist our arm hard enough we may take Contreras off your hands.
Seriously people: There’s no way a rebuilding ballclub signed Gomes for $6.5M per in order to be the backup catcher.
Contreras is gone.
Why? That’s the going rate for the best catcher available. They have zero other options in the system. Contreras may be traded, but not because of this move. The Cubs have very little $ on the books. It was stated as a need by the organization.
And given that Willson has had some injuries, maybe from being overworked, that could allow him to play outfield once in awhile, or DH if that’s an option, to give him a break. That was the plan in 2021 but the Cubs went through a gazillion backup catchers, eliminating that.
Because a rebuilding club doesn’t invest that kind of money in a backup catcher.
Prove me wrong. Name three backup catchers who make more than $5m per year. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of even one but I’m sure the other posters here will help you if they exist.
Frankly, if you’re a Cubs fan, you don’t WANT to invest $6.5 mill in a backup catcher when the team is headed for a losing season.
The ONLY way this makes any sense is if they intend to deal Contreras. He’ll be gone by Opening Day.
D98 is everywhere
MISSED IT BY THAT [ = ] MUCH !!
According to informed sources, The Marlins were in on Yan Gomes right up until he signed the deal to join the Cubs.. The Marlins made a “strong” offer, but not one that matched the Cubs’ financial commitment. The Marlins weren’t the only team to be outbid.
The Minnesota Twins had also been linked to Gomes.
Only 34 going on 35 ? LOL he’s a freakin baby ! Cubbies going for the geriatric club…LMAO
Cubs sure have the money throwing that kind of money at a backup . Just wait 3 years Cubs dynasty
The Guardians got a rock.