The Cubs have received dismal production from the catcher position this year, a topic that manager Craig Counsell openly discussed recently, as relayed by Sahadev Sharma in an article at The Athletic.
“Frankly, our catchers’ offense has been a struggle,” manager Counsell said. “We’re going to need to have better offense from our catchers to have a good offense. To have spots in your lineup that aren’t producing stops rallies.”
The Cubs have given all of their playing time behind the plate this year to Yan Gomes and Miguel Amaya, but both are hitting poorly, as Counsell admitted. The 36-year-old Gomes has plenty of good seasons on his résumé, hitting double-digit home runs eight times, but he has just two long balls this year. He has a 23.5% strikeout rate in his career, which is roughly average, but is currently being punched out at a 40% clip and has a batting line of .148/.176/.235. The 25-year-old Amaya isn’t quite as bad but his .194/.255/.274 line isn’t pretty either.
The problems don’t stop with the offense, as laid out by Sharma. Gomes has -6 Defensive Runs Saved this year and negative framing marks from FanGraphs, Statcast and Baseball Prospectus, while Amaya is hovering close to league average in those categories. The running games has also been a problem, with the Statcast catcher throwing leaderboard featuring ranking Amaya as one of the worst among qualified backstops while Gomes is in the middle of the pack. As Sharma highlights, the Cubs have caught just 13% of attempted base stealers, which has them tied for last in that department.
As noted by both Counsell and Sharma, pitchers play a role in that part of the game, but catchers obviously do as well. “Our catchers, you have to help to do that,” Counsell said. “You have to have help to be good at that. I think we’re going to continue to try to do a better job helping those guys be successful there.”
With struggles on both sides of the ball, the Cubs might have to think about making some kind of change. Clubs are sometimes reluctant to make midseason alterations to the roster at the catcher position due to the challenge of a new backstop having to learn the pitching staff in short order, but Sharma reports that Counsell doesn’t have those hesitations.
Actually pulling off such a switch would be somewhat complicated, as neither Amaya nor Gomes can be optioned to the minors. Amaya has exhausted his option years and has long been seen as the proverbial catcher of the future for the Cubs, meaning they likely don’t want to lose him based on a few rough months, especially when he’s likely to grow in time. “Big league at-bats for Miguel are a great teacher right now,” Counsell said. “At his experience level, he will improve.”
Gomes is far older and an impending free agent, but the Cubs are committed to him financially. They signed him to a two-year, $13MM deal going into 2022, with a $6MM club option for 2024. Gomes had a solid season in 2023, prompting the Cubs to trigger that option. Given his struggles and that salary, he would have no trade appeal, so the Cubs would likely have to eat that money and release Gomes if they wanted to pivot. Carrying three backstops would technically be possible but would involve bumping someone like David Bote or Patrick Wisdom from the roster and therefore cutting into the club’s depth at other positions.
Despite the challenges, it seems like Counsell is open to some kind of change. The Cubs could possibly find help from within, as Alí Sánchez is in the organization on a minor league deal and playing well. He has stepped to the plate 121 times for Triple-A Iowa this year and drawn a walk in 14% of those while hitting three home runs, leading to a line of .262/.372/.437 and a 113 wRC+. He has a sliver of major league experience and hit well in Triple-A last year with Arizona, slashing .311/.375/.492.
The Cubs could also look outside the organization to the trade market, but the options there may be limited. The Blue Jays are struggling a bit this year and have impending free agent Danny Jansen. He is very talented, something that MLBTR’s Anthony Franco recently highlighted, but the Jays are still in the playoff race. Jeff Passan of ESPN reported this week that the club isn’t planning to commit to either buying or selling until the All-Star break, which is still over a month away. Players like Carson Kelly of the Tigers or Victor Caratini of the Astros could make sense, but like the Jays, those clubs probably want to wait a few more weeks before deciding to sell useful players. Elias Díaz makes sense as a trade candidate on paper but the Rockies are notoriously reluctant to part with players even when logic supports such a move. Martín Maldonado of the White Sox is probably attainable but is playing worse than either Amaya or Gomes this year, with a batting line of .076/.124/.120.
Perhaps the Cubs will wait and see if Gomes or Amaya can put together a good stretch in the next month or so and then move to the trade market if that doesn’t happen. There’s some sense in such a path but also risk. The club is in the thick of an incredibly tight National League playoff race. Atlanta has a pretty firm grip on the top Wild Card spot but there are nine clubs within three games of each other in the battle for the final two. Despite a 31-32 record, the Cubs are atop that pile at the moment but it’s a situation where every game matters. This is something the Cubs know well as they finished 2023 just one game behind the final postseason spot.
Narvaez?
I am highly confident that Amaya’s bat will pick up and I would hate to see the Cubs lose him. I am not sure Amaya’s poor rate of catching base stealers will change much or not. Amaya’s minor league hitting development was delayed by injury but the talent is there. I would like to see a trade to replace Gomes, but I am not sure what is available.
Good question, but not sure he’s a clear upgrade over Gomes.
He laid out the problem pretty well. Catcher is the one position it’s hard to change in the middle of the season especially when your Pitching staff is doing really well for the most part. There are some wrinkles to be worked out in the pen for sure but a new C at this point might do more harm than good. Still they have to think beyond this season and Aliendo hasn’t even hit AAA yet and Ballesteros is Kyle Schwarber 2.0. All bat and no glove. Caratini or Diaz could be a 2 year answer. I always liked Caratini. And Counsell knows him well.
Ben Brown for Danny Jansen? Does that framework seem likely? Kikuchi and Garcia also likely to be available.
That’s a joke right Cowboy? A stud controlled starter for a C rental? Make me laugh.
Is Brown for sure a stud starter? It sounds like he’s a stud reliever who can occasionally fake it as a two pitch starter for now. But his future still seems uncertain. I think he’s probably improved his stock enough since pre-season prospect lists came out that he’d be seen a tier higher, but I did think Jansen could get a couple of pieces in the tier Brown shows up in on pre season scouting reports. The Cubs probably aren’t going to trade off their roster if they’re buying and certainly not going to deplete starting pitching depth so I don’t think Brown is going anywhere.
But in terms of other guys in that tier of prospect (by pre-season lists), I could see the Jays liking BJ Murray. A criticism of the Jays system is that they tend to collect these types of skills over tools players but if that’s what they like, Murray fits the bill. So long as he’s truly a 3B defender. The Jays can’t seem to develop guys who stick on the left side of the infield. And that’s the system need Murray would fill. They have lots of hitters like him, but none that play up the defensive spectrum enough to be easy roster fits. He’s not out to a good start in AAA so he’s not likely imminent help for the Cubs.
Also Michael Arias. The Blue Jays love athletic pitchers and have gone out of their way to target two way and multi sport pitchers. It’s why I thought Cade Horton might be a targeted piece in the offseason talks around Bo Bichette. Arias was originally signed by the Jays as a SS but didn’t stick long. I see he’s already moved to strictly relief, but I wonder if the Jays might like his profile as a multi inning guy.
Does Jansen for Murray and Arias sound reasonable? It does to me.
Cubs untouchables are Horton, Arias, Caissie PCA . You might be able to gt a starter out of the Cubs but it would take a haul not a rental C. BJ Murray is a very good player. SH and can play multiple positions. However he’s having a tough year with the bat which if I had to guess has something to do with trying for more power. He was always a solid contact hitter before so I don’t know what his problem is. In fact the Cubs have a few players who are very similar that are doing very well they would probably trade. OF depth in Canario, Alcantara, Hill and IF Triantos, Shaw, and Vasquez are all players that will have a tough time cracking the Cubs with Swanson and Hoerner around. Birdsell, Noland, Gray and others that can go if you want starters. Wiggins and Mule are probably off the table also. There’s easily a deal to be made here for Jansen but not at the prices that have been suggested. Horton is probably in Chicago next year, Arias is a future closer and PCA and Caissie are the best LH bats in the system so I doubt they go anywhere.
I wonder if there’s really a trade to be made. Both teams are bad teams this season that are somehow holding onto the fringes of contention but are unlikely to make it to the postseason. Maybe it’s too early for the Cubs to trade prospects. Keep the powder dry for the offseason. Maybe since it’s a good system there are some guys caught up in 40 man crunches that could be moved for minor rentals if you want to put in a token effort this year. But in terms of the more valuable rentals out there like Jansen, it doesn’t seem to make sense in a season like this. If the Cubs add, it seems more likely to be guys controlled beyond this year. Even though the Jays have a better record than the Cubs, they are moving in opposite directions in the big picture. The Jays are in a closing window and even playing from behind with 20-25% postseason odds, might be more inclined to just stand pat and try to sneak in to a wild card spot. Maybe even make a bold addition to help cover the gap. Seems like a bad idea, but it also seems like there’s not a lot of opportunity to get better next season so this might be seen as a last best shot. But then again, if this is just the new reality of 3 divisions and 3 WC baseball, maybe no team ever needs to think of themselves as out of contention.
Excellent points all, Not really sure what the Cubs are thinking. Hoyer is just hoping everything starts coming up roses and everybody starts hitting and the bullpen magically works itself out. It might, But without a Closer bullpens rarely work themselves out. Not having a Closer cost another game Tuesday and it’s getting problematic. I don’t know where you heard Brown only has 2 pitches but he throws a Fastball, Slider, Knuckle Curve and has a change up he uses real sparingly. He doesn’t have a lot of confidence in the change yet but he’s using it more often. Maybe Hoyer is right and it all works out, Sounds like that’s what the Jays think also IDK. Not sure just how long either team can just sit on their hands anymore. It’s getting redundant for the Cubs.
I couldn’t tell you what the Jays think. They are operating with a bit of urgency. Moving the lineup around. Plugging guys into positions they don’t have much or any experience at. They took a career 1B in AAA and gave him a crash course in playing 2B for a couple of weeks then brought him up to play 2B and bat second and leadoff in the majors. There’s no sticking to plan anymore, but they don’t have very many buttons to push to address it.
On Brown, pitch tracking must not distinguish his slider from his curve as it doesn’t show him as throwing any sliders. And only 14 changeups all season. If he does have 2 distinct breaking balls, one of them is always being misclassified. That’s why it’s nice to have a forum like this where fans of teams can add more context to numbers, months old prospect scouting reports, and the highlight reels.
I just finished listening to a Cubs based show on the Foul Territory feed (Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney hosts) to get a feel for what the Cubs are really thinking with some rumours around Jays players. It seems they really think the time is now to push prospects in to try to win now. That surprised me. They got into a little bit of Pete Alonso and Vlad trades. What I’m struggling to understand is that aren’t Busch and Suzuki hitting well? How are you putting 1B types into the lineup? Busch to 3B? Suzuki more OF time and Busch with the other 1B sharing 1B and DH duties? Play Vlad at 3B? I’m not entirely sure he’d be better than Morel there. Seems like C, 3B, OF might be clearer opportunities to improve. What’s the deal with Morel? Is he in the plans or is that a guy you might see moved? He seems to have all the tools but no defensive home. Why not just play him in a corner OF spot?
Getting Guerrero to play 3B would be the same as jumping off the Lusitania and onto the Titanic to keep from sinking. It would be complete lunacy. The deal with Morel is the Cubs kept thinking of him as a jack of all trades and moved him all over the place until the guy was so confused it’s amazing he doesn’t howl at the moon all night. There are varying opinions of him at 3B and he does make some dumb mistakes. His best position is probably 2B but with Hoerner, Triantos and Shaw here he’ll never play there. Counsell is trying to be true to the guy and leave him at 3B and DH for now. His average doesn’t really tell the story of how hard he’s hit the ball this year. His approach is better and he’s walking more and lately the hits have been falling. He’s never going to hit .300 but there’s no reason he can’t hit 40 HR’s. The reason he doesn’t play Corner OF is 1. He’s not real good out there, And 2. We’re stuck with Happ and Suzuki thru 2026 with NMC’s. We can’t even get our own prospects in Canario and Caissie into the game. Busch played a little 2B this week when Hoerner got hit on the hand. We’ve heard he can play 3B though it’s never happened here so I can’t honestly say one way or another. If you listen to Sharma and Mooney enough you might go deaf and blind so I’d be careful if I were you. So what’s with the Jays? Why would they want to deal Bichette or Guerrero? Makes no sense to me. Unless it’s to reset the arbitration clock. Are they short on cash? If they’re short on cash what was with the Ohtani fiasco? Lot of questions over there also. Brown to the DL with a sore neck was just to spread innings out between Wicks and Brown and Immanaga. 15 day DL with a sore neck? Seriously? Don’t know who they think they’re kidding.
I don’t think the front office wants to trade Vlad or Bo. I think the rumours are more because other front offices and media see a team that has a rapidly shrinking window and no real optimism from either side that an extension is on the table and wonders if they need to retool a bit. The fans are open to it. A lot of fans don’t like Vlad because they think he’s immature and too focused on having fun. Bo has escaped criticism more but is certainly not universally loved among the fanbase. He’s definitely the subject of more fan ire this year because he’s just not doing anything well. I think the fans are just so frustrated that they just want a clean slate. Bo and Vlad are the faces of this era and it barely got off the ground before coming back down to earth. They haven’t carried the team. And even though they’ve made the postseason the last couple of years, they were out of contention for the division early in those years and swept in the first round. Since last year, the focus on run prevention and a contact hitting offensive strategy has made for a really boring product that makes it feel like they are a lot worse than their record shows. They have a really poorly regarded farm system so it feels like dark days ahead. And if Vlad and Bo aren’t capable of carrying the team to contention, maybe they can at least be the means to replenish the farm a bit. Not unlike how the Cubs strengthened their system through trade.
You mention the cash. That’s the thing. They have plenty. So in theory, they could put a decent team on the field year to year if they make the right signings. In ‘21 they got an MVP finalist and a Cy Young winner out of one year signings. But they have so much roster turnover coming in the next couple of years that they can’t build it all through free agency. They develop high floor bats, but none that stick up the defensive spectrum so it’s rather crowded at positions like 2B and LF. And then they need to make signings for guys like IKF and Kiermaier in free agency.
Caratini as a stopgap, and then pursue Janssen hard in the off-season. Aliendo profiles as a career defensive catcher. Ballesteros is the wild card but realistically if he is up in 2025 he’s going to be the third catcher and a short backup 1B. Ballesteros was born 30 years too late, he would have been the quintessential bench bat back in the days of 14 position players.
Brick, would he’d be the reincarnation of a guy named Smokey Burgess?
I was actually thinking more recent, 1970s/early 80s PH/1B/C Jose Morales. 733 appearances, 265 were at DH, only 104 in the field and of those only 30 at catcher. Still a nice 12 year career, 103 OPS+. He pinch hit a lot for the Expos and later Dodgers.
What about Grandal? The Pirates don’t need 3 catchers. Grandal hasn’t played well but perhaps in a part time role he would. Played for the White Sox so playing for the other Chicago team might be comfortable for him. Wouldn’t cost anything much to acquire.
No thanks.
Yeah nobody needs Grandal anymore. For anything.
Who then?
Trouble with replacing a catcher is that it’s not as simple as most positions. Catchers need to be very familiar with the pitching staff. It’s part of the reason why pitchers and catchers report early to ST. It’s why Jim Hendry used to have Koyie Hill on speed dial.
When the catching defense is this bad, what do you really have to lose? The starters have already been in a slide for the last couple of weeks. They have to make a trade, eat Gomes deal and keep Amaya as a back up.
“Rockies are notoriously reluctant to part with players even when logic supports such a move.” That’s the quote of the year as far as I’m concerned. They have no reason whatsoever to hold onto Diaz, but COL has proven time and time again that cutting off their nose to spite their face is a matter of course in their organizational philosophy. Any way, I do hope the Cubs find another catcher before the end of the month even if they DFA Gomes and call up Sanchez.
The Rockies traded away all their expiring contracts last year and certainly will deal at least one of Diaz or Stallings this summer.
Sox will give you Maldonado for a few low level prospects.
A bag of balls tops!
Maybe they need counseling?
But this isn’t about the Reds. What gives?
Reese McGuire? The cubs can get him for nothing, and the red Sox have a out 40 AAAA catchers. Plus they’re about 2 years away from really competing either way. Maybe they can include teel to see if assad or Horton could be available
It’s not opposite day. It has to be delusional day.
That was the other day when you did not know David Bote’s contractual situation and those guys put you in your place.
Yeah because not knowing about that 1 million dollar buyout of a crap deal matters so much in the pitiful reality of your life. I know 1 million dollars to the Pirates means bankruptcy to the owner and it’s pitiful fans like you but here it’s tip money to Ricketts. You should stay in your lane.
It’s not knowing that is your problem. You don’t know anything and decide to pick a fight with everyone, then give some apology you did not mean. Who said I am a Pittsburgh fan? Skenes? Maybe I am an LSU fan or a fan of him?
As for staying in my lane, you should do the same. You got caught the other day with your pants down, and now you are back at it again attacking everyone. The lane you should be in is the lane of humility after you were humiliated.
I apologized for not knowing about the buyout, My argument is still valid that DFAing Bote wouldn’t be a big deal because it isn’t So How is LSU doing this year? Thought so. You really need to find something relevant to talk about because this isn’t. Relevant would be Jaxson Wiggins making his debut in A ball after TJ surgery and pitching 3 scoreless while striking out 5. Gray and Mule pitching tonight. You know relevant Cub things. Not ancient history like David Bote. Like I said, Stay in your lane.
Heh, making friends again.
I would agree with you about Reese McGuire. Good defensive catcher with the Jays, not a great hitter. Although the Cubs really aren’t a good team and should be doing a soft reload. As someone who is in a lane of sanity you might not understand. But Skenes has a good point and you should step back and find a new hobby.
Take Grandal from the Pirates
And beat the living crap out of him so he stops playing.
Jays should be selling so ask for Danny Jansen. Problem solved.
I’m willing to give Amaya a chance, but Gomes is toast. He looks scared to hit these days, like he’s going up there knowing he’s going to strike out. Can’t have a lack of confidence, if so, you’re done.
Gomes’ batting average can legally drive. How can they possibly be concerned about the next Catcher “learning the pitching staff.” Calling a game is via Bluetooth.
Tell me you miss WC without telling me you miss him haha
Word on the streets in wrigleyville is that Jody Davis is about to come out of retirement and sign with the cubs. Also another name that is being mentioned is Damen Berryhill. You heard it here first baseball fans!
Thomas Nido of the Mets should soon be available.
Gomes in his mid-30s is the kind of guy you sign as a stopgap on a rebuilding team or as a backup on a contending team. The Cubs’ mistake was signing him to a multiyear contract to be their starting catcher in the first place.
While he’s had a few decent offensive years, he’s been too inconsistent to expect it multiple years in a row, and his defense has never been great. Throw his age into the equation, and this was a disaster waiting to happen, made even worse by the equally poor play of their backup.
We’ll trade you Diaz if you take Bryant back