The Cubs have signed catcher Joe Hudson to a minor league deal with an invitation to major league Spring Training, per Eric Treuden of Jays Journal.
Hudson, 33 in May, has 18 games of major league experience to this point in his career. Those games were scattered between the 2018 Angels, 2019 Cardinals and 2020 Mariners. He hit a combined .167/.219/.200 in a small sample of 33 plate appearances, though he’s generally been considered strong on defense.
His offense has been better in the minors, including a batting line of .230/.330/.398 across five different seasons at the Triple-A level. That includes a 2023 stint with the Braves on a minor league deal, wherein he got into 69 Triple-A contests. He struck out in 29% of his trips to the plate this year but also drew walks in 16.2% of them, leading to a slash of .232/.371/.395 for the year and a 99 wRC+.
The Cubs are a bit thin at the catcher position, with Yan Gomes and Miguel Amaya the only two currently on the 40-man roster. Amaya has just 53 games of major league experience while Gomes is going into his age-36 season. Hudson and Jorge Alfaro, who also signed a minor league deal with the Cubs this offseason, will provide the team with some experienced non-roster depth.
That’ll get them to the playoffs
Lmao
Did you mean THE Joe Hudson????
Yes, this is certainly the move that puts us in Oct baseball next year.
After they lose belli over meaningless money, they’ll be no better than the low market buccos because bellinger was everything to them pensively and defenively last year.
Just like maddux- belli gone!
World Series bound
Jorge Alfaro at Catcher
Amaya at 1st
Joe Hudson at 2nd
And who ever the other catcher they signed on a minor league deal at 3rd
Yan Gomes at SS.
Jeez.. You guys have got to come up with some new material.
I see your Gary Sanchez and I’ll raise you a Joe Hudson
Cubs are too cheap to pay for a Gary Sanchez. They’re supposed to be a big market club, but Tom Ricketts won’t pay the luxury tax now, so the ever-catious Hoyer has to be even more risk adverse. Not looking good for the Cubs in 2024. 4th place. Maybe.
Who exactly did the cubs go cheap on this far? Ohtani was going to LA with Yamamoto from the start and they Stroman and Bellinger chose to opt out. Who that is available is Ricketts going cheap on? They are well below the luxury tax.
Why weren’t they in on Yamamoto? Sure, he would have signed with LA anyway, but other big markets at least tried. And why aren’t they suiters for the top rotation guys, like Montgomery? They aren’t even trying for the likes of him. And they need a closer – sorry, I’m not sold on Alzolay. They need other help in the bullpen too. And they aren’t in on Belli unless he signs for less than 200M. That may actually be a smart move, I’m not sure he’s proven he is all the way back. Still, why didn’t they at least re-sign C> Who is going to play third base? They didn’t try for Juan Soto. I can go on longer, if you’d like. But go ahead, keep drinking the Kool-Aid. This team right now is behind everyone in the division except maybe the Bucs. Maybe. And that shouldn’t be the goal anyway.
Obviously they aren’t out to spend big this off-season….yet. Not looking good so far though. Only mlb club with zero additions to their mlb roster.
Alzolay will be fine at closer if his elbow injury from last year isn’t a recurring issue. And if it is, then Leiter or Merryweather can handle it. There is no special magic needed to be a “closer.”
I’m bored with the off-season but not panicking yet. All the Cubs “targets” are still in play and I’m not going freak out until they aren’t.
Where is the front of the rotation guy they need? And don’t tell me Montgomery, they aren’t even in on him. They dropped out once they found out his price tag. They need two starting pitchers and bullpen help, in addition to 1st and 3rd basemen. We should be in on anyone, but instead we’re going after cheap guys like . It’s not “freaking out” Drasco, it’s calling them out. Cubs fans are so used to mediocrity that they accept this nonsense. Well, I don’t.
First of all, coop, you are not calling anyone out. You’re venting. There is a huge difference. You are not sitting at the Cubs convention with Hoyer and Ricketts sitting at the table and even if you were it would still be venting. Calling people out requires evidence, not opinions.
Second, you’re venting about the bullpen because you’re not sold on Alzolay? Okay fine but no pitcher can prove anything unless given the chance to do so. When given the chance, thus far, Alzolay has done well.
There are two hitters the Cubs should be in on, you don’t believe one is “back” despite the guy hitting over .300, hit a 162 game pace of 32 home runs, 36 doubles, 25 steals, 120 rbis and 118 run scored. Not sure what kind of convincing you need, more strikeouts so he can have a more impressive exit velocity?
The other hitter being Rhys Hoskins who most likely won’t sign until Bellinger signs.
You complain about third base, okay again, cool, Matt Shaw best up double A pitching last year and has a good chance to be manning third at some point next year. Vázquez is a good glove caliber defender at short with an arm that more than plays at third, he also lowered his hands and the result was beating up double an and triple a pitchers. Shall we dump money on Matt Chapman to appease you given his steady decline?
Cubs need two starting pitchers? Put the pipe down sir. I’d love to see the Cubs grab a front line starter but Steele, Hendricks, Taillon, Assad, Wicks, Smyly with Wesneski as depth and Horton on the cusp. Cubs “need” one.
Cubs weren’t “in” on Soto? Boo hoo. Cubs didn’t want to give up their present and future for a guy making 33 million with no position on the team for a season.
You need to grow up. Seriously. You’ll be mad at the end of the off season because you think the Cubs should buy every free agent and use no critical thinking skills to the bigger picture.
Cubs should be in on Bellinger and/or Hoskins, should be in on Gio Urshela as a short term stop gap. They missed on Giolito which is the only thing I’m semi upset about at the moment. And probably should be in on Jordan Hicks for the pen with Robertson being a fall back option.
All good!
The Cubs already have Gomes and Amaya at the catcher position. They have no need for Sanchez even if he was more like his younger self.
@djmac. Exactly right. Why would either Sanchez or the Cubs want to join forces. Clearly Sanchez would be the 3rd catcher and I seriously doubt at this time he wants a clear minor league assignment.
remembercoop is constantly on here making comments that the sky is always falling, for the Cubs. And while I’m not a fan of Ricketts, I must admit he has not gone cheap lately. With last years payroll over $200M, while they are committing to a youth movement is not really being cheap.
If anything I am more concerned there might be a lack of opportunity for some of the young talent. And then what do you do, , , sell them for less than what they’re true worth, might be?
One word: Patience.
No need to panic. This free agency has moved at a snails pace. The cubs have plenty of options to get better. PCA and Horton knocking on the door. What team in the division is vastly better than last year? The answer is none.
I will take Yan Gomes and Miguel Amaya over Gary Sanchez even at the same cost. Miguel Amaya is already excellent behind the plate and I expect his bat to follow.
The Cubs need an additional solid starter to replace Stroman and a a solid corner infield bat. If not traded, I guess Morel can DH. Cubs do not need a catcher, middle infielder, or corner outfielder. If Alzolay is healthy, he will be a solid closer.
Steele, Hendricks, Taillon, Wick, Assad is not going to win the division.
I personally think the rotation is good enough to take the division but I think the Cubs need one more starter. I fully expect Horton to continue to dominate and be in the rotation at some point next year. I also expect Brown to be in the pen.
I think if the Cubs re-sign Bellinger, you can give Morel a long look at third base with Shaw and Vázquez in the minors. Hoskins at first probably would require either a stop gap at third or Madrigal back manning the hit corner with Morel at DH.
I’d like to see the Cubs sign Hicks. Sinker/ground ball specialist with the best up the middle defense in the game. Add Madrgial as a defensive replace at third and you are in good shape.
Signing Chapman would be a serious error in judgment.
I personally would love to see Bellinger and Hoskins signed and I’m kind of at a loss when it comes to a pitcher. Giolito made so much sense for the Cubs and I’m not sold on Bieber enough to give up anything of serious value for him in trade. I’m not hating the Cubs for shying away from the Japanese market given the high cost of signing guys now. It’s just too much risk for me to pay market value for their international numbers.
Morel does not have the defensive chops to play 3B.
Agree Aroldis Chapman would be a mistake, could use the 3B Chapman.
Expect the Cubs to sign someone like Hoskins, Mervis will have to fight for spot on Opening Fay roster. Madrigal and Wisdom were weak links.
Horton will be on okay in 2025. Even if you believe that Wicks and Assad are ready for a full season of starting, you need depth for injuries. Better to use one of them in long relief to open season. Hoskins or Chapman and a starter would round my list and O think Belli will get more than he is worth. My shocker prediction: Stroman will be the starter signed on a deal similar to what Giolito just received.
Game Over, man! Game Over!
Now that the flubs got out man Hudson let’s let bellinger go because he wants too much and Hudson can be our clean up hitter. Let’s go cubbies, World Series bound. 2030!
Cody will take a discount now since he knows he’s got Joe Hudson protecting him in the lineup.
Jed Hoyer awakens! Signs a nobody, & goes back into hibernation for the winter.
I see the Cubs battling it out for Snell and Chapman .
Those2 FA puts them at Luxury tax theshold with still a couple gaps to fill. Signing less than those 2 leaves the Cubs looking at 2nd or 3rd in the division. Work to be done. Maybe trade some prospects?
I don’t want any part of Chapman. At his age, and declining bat, he’s not worth the years and dollars he’s looking for. I’d rather stick with Madrigal for the first couple months and see if Shaw’s continued development warrants a look around Memorial Day. If he can stick at 3b, fine. If not, look around and see who’s available in the trade market.
Probly not Chapman. I’m betting it’s Bellinger/ Hoskins on the player position side. Ideally, Morel would slide into third if he had any arm accuracy at all. If they’re serious, they can’t consider Wisdom. Madrigal was surprisingly good with the glove but he’s not the long term answer there either. The Naylor/Bieber thing is interesting. But Bieber is more of a 3,4,5 guy now. They’d still need a big armed righty to match up with Steele. Who’s ready on the farm? Who’s Jed willing to part with? That’s the fun part right there, boys.
They aren’t in on Snell at all. And the only way they sign Chapman is if they get him at their price. Hoyer is so afraid of another Heyward-type contract that he won’t risk it .
And they aren’t going to move prospects – you heard Ricketts. The way to build is through the farm. Which is true, except you can still use those chips to cover up any holes you have with any surplus you might have on the farm.
Hey remembercoop, maybe Hoyer actually learned something from the Heyward contract – – and you didn’t? Could that be? And you constantly write that the Cubs lack a TOR SP. I can only guess you never heard of Justin Steele. And you don’t have a clue, how close Cade Horton is? And YOU absolutely are sure the Cub front office isn’t working on a trade, or a FA signing for a SP. And remcoop knows (somehow) the Cubs didn’t make a competitive offer to Ohtani or “they weren’t in, on Yamamoto “? Really coop, YOU know that?
Oh, and the great talent evaluator – remembercoop, isn’t ‘sold on Alzolay’. Well if remcoop thinks that, I guess that’s it.
And one last thing. Why should the Cubs sign Chapman for anything except what they believe his true value is?? I guess you feel they should because remembercoop, says so – or otherwise they’re being cheap?
I get his venting because Cubs should be acting like a big market team, even if I disagree with his analysis. But there is still plenty of time this off-season for the Cubs to pick up a corner infielder and a starter.
“Signs a nobody”…So, would you prefer the Cubs don’t sign depth players and then run short of depth options later in the season?
MLB Fan: I think he would prefer they sign ………somebody good. Not a bad concept.
Thank you Whifff, at least you get it.
It was hard work for Jed, having to deal with Hudson’s agent Scott Boras.
That moves us closer to the championship window big time, he says with a large dose of sarcasm. When I said “ Hoyer, do something, anything, not exactly what I had in mind”.
League-altering move. Apparently the Cubs front office IS alive after all
It’s not every day you go out and sign a potential 10-WAR player like Hudson.
No offense to Joe Hudson but this is just a depth move.
Joe gets to keep trying until he finally throws out a base stealer.
Lol!
How quickly we forget that they signed the biggest managerial ‘free agent’ to a record setting contract. A depth move for Joe Hudson doesn’t take away from what they’re building on the Northside.
“How quickly we forget”…Sometimes slow playing the market works out well. I wouldn’t be surprised if Belli fell to the Cubs on more team favorable terms. Nobody is giving that guy 12 yrs & 250M.
Think it comes down to Toronto or the Cubs.
Personally, I think Toronto is out on Belli after signing KK & IKF. I think Toronto only wanted to spend big on Ohtani, not WAY overpriced Belli. Belli doesn’t help Rogers Communications penetrate the Asian market the way Ohtani would.
I see him getting a $100,000,000 deal. Tops.
I think Belli gets more than 100 million. Cubs would gladly give him two years and 50 million with an opt-out after first year. But I see Belli getting more but getting it elsewhere.
How many catcher Cubs going to sign? Fire jag hole
His OBP is at least very good. He seems like he finds ways to get on base. Takes a good amount of walks, maybe?
(I’m referring to the minors).
Looks like center is Armstrong’s to lose. A Wisdom replacement at 3rd would be nice, plus more pitching. Wouldn’t mind Hoskins at 1st, either.
Ray
Tauchman will be opening day CF unless they surprise me and sign Belli. PCA will take over CF early in season if he is hitting decent.
Busy week on free agent front
Hoping for more, but my money’s on Chapman at third and Clevinger to fill up the rotation. And of course the pen will consist mostly of cheap rebound hopefuls they’ll pick up in mid February.
Of the 8 Hudson’s who’ve played MLB, only one started before 2000.
Cubs need to sign Snell or Montgomery
They should sign both after losing Stroman and lack of production behind Steele in the rotation.
Lol Snell isn’t coming and the Ricketts would never pay the price it would take.
LET’S GOOOO! Jed proving all the naysayers wrong. Cubs are ready to compete next year. Just give us the pennant now.
Now that’s how you use almost $50 million in projected luxury tax space!!!
It’s actually a billion dollar contract just deferred until 2490 which comes to about $250k.
And Joe Freakin’ Hudson is worth every penny.
WHOA!!! The front office is back from vacation and they’re AGGRESSIVE!!!
Hoyer and Ricketts you did Nothing to improve this team for the plays and you’ve done even less since then.
Sell the Team to a real baseball fan who wants to win not just suck the money out of fans and do nothing
Agreed. He got his WS and now just uses the team as an ATM.
Who needs Otani anyway? That’s the signing we’ve been waiting for.
The Cubs got their guy! Take that Nightingale!
Joe Freakin’ Hudson!
Right?
Sign Stroman 3/55
Sign bellinger 6/150 + performance escalators, slightly front loaded with opt out after 3 years
Sign Bauer 2/20 slightly back loaded with opt out after 1
Not my money, but each one of these signings would improve the team individually a well as collectively moving the needle.
I see another Greg maddux leaving in bellinger all over a silly amount. The cubs will always be the cubs. Somewhere Wrigley is smiling. Go cubs as the fans continue to flock the park with sellouts.
Like maddux before him, bellinger gone all for a fistful of money! Hudson, our cleanup hitter!
A .167/.219/ .200 batting line. My cat could do that
Hoyer did one helluva job selling cubs fans on what they were planning to do this offseason!