The Cubs need help behind the dish. That statement will not come as a surprise to anyone who has watched baseball on the North Side of Chicago this season. Cubs catchers are batting .199/.246/.305 with a 54 wRC+ in 2024. Those are grim numbers, even considering the lower offensive standards at the position. To add insult to injury, Cubs catchers don’t grade out well on defense either, with -4 Defensive Runs Saved (21st in MLB) and a -6 Fielding Run Value (23rd). Overall, Miguel Amaya, Christian Bethancourt, Tomás Nido, and Yan Gomes have combined for -0.9 FanGraphs WAR, last in the National League and 29th in MLB. Only the White Sox have gotten less production from behind the plate.
With all that in mind, it makes sense that the team made a serious effort to add a new backstop before the July 30 trade deadline. According to Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer “aggressively pursued” catching this summer. Logan O’Hoppe of the Angels was one player he had his eye on. However, Sharma notes that the Angels “repeatedly and firmly rebuffed” Hoyer’s attempts to trade for their 24-year-old catcher.
This lines up with everything we already knew about Chicago’s plan ahead of the deadline. The Cubs were linked to Danny Jansen, arguably the best catcher on the trade block, in mid-July. However, Hoyer later stated that he wasn’t going to make moves that would only improve the roster in 2024, but rather those that would help the team “for 2025 and beyond.” Jansen is set to reach free agency this winter, as is Carson Kelly, the only other notable catcher traded at this year’s deadline. In other words, neither matched up with what the Cubs were seeking. O’Hoppe, on the other hand, will not be eligible for arbitration until the 2026 season, and he will not reach free agency until the offseason after the 2028 campaign. Much like Isaac Paredes, O’Hoppe could have helped the Cubs compete in 2024 and for several years to come.
Yet, for the same reasons, it’s not hard to understand why the Angels had no interest in giving him up. O’Hoppe broke out at the plate during an injury-shortened 2023 campaign. In 51 games, he hit 14 home runs and put up a 113 wRC+. His .264 isolated power ranked second among primary catchers (min. 150 PA), while his .500 slugging percentage ranked fourth. The young catcher has continued to hit in 2024, slashing .260/.320/.435 with a 111 wRC+ across 101 games. He has also taken a big step forward on defense. His defensive metrics remain below average in just about every category, including pitch framing, blocking, and pop time, but he is not nearly as much of a liability as he was last season. In 2023, he produced -9 DRS and a -7 FRV in just 49 games at catcher. This year, in almost twice as many appearances, he has a much more palatable -3 DRS and -3 FRV. All told, O’Hoppe has produced 1.8 fWAR, which ranks 10th among primary catchers. Still just 24 and playing in his first full MLB season, he has plenty of time to continue to improve.
Los Angeles was quiet at the trade deadline, and reports suggested GM Perry Minasian was unlikely to trade any players who were not on expiring contracts. That turned out to be true, as relievers Carlos Estévez and Luis García were the only players the team ended up selling. One could argue the Angels should have been aggressive in shopping players with multiple years of team control, such as Tyler Anderson, Taylor Ward, and Griffin Canning. However, they had very little incentive to trade O’Hoppe, especially if they are hoping to contend again in the near future.
Thus, the Cubs struck out on O’Hoppe and ultimately decided to stick with what they had: Amaya, Bethancourt, and, once he returns from the IL, Nido. That means Amaya is the primary catcher, although Sharma notes that the team sees him as a backup for 2025 and beyond. Meanwhile, Bethancourt has been hot since he joined the team as a replacement for the injured Nido in late July. Once Nido is ready to return, Chicago will need to make a decision if he or Bethancourt will be the second-string catcher for the rest of the 2024 campaign. As for next year, Hoyer must address the catching position over the offseason. Free agent options will include Jansen, Kelly, Elias Díaz, and Jacob Stallings (if his mutual option with the Rockies is not exercised). The best internal option for the Cubs is top catching prospect Moises Ballesteros, but he is only 20 years old, and Sharma points out that the team isn’t sold on his defense. Finally, Hoyer will surely remain active in trade talks, but it’s hard to say if any big-name backstops will be on the block this winter.
Their collective OBP has to be .246, not .346, right??
Why would the Angels trade O’Hoppe? Maybe the Cubs should have set their targets on realistic trade options.
Why would the Cubs trade for a bum when you can get them for free off the waiver pile? If you’re going to shoot for something why not aim for the brass ring? At least Hoyer kept his word and didn’t make any deals for 2024 only and it’s working out OK since the deadline so far.
Do you even know what your rambling on about?
@mets6986 doesn’t even look like he read the title or the article. O’hoppe isn’t a bum, and it would have to be a haul to get him. I feel like it’s a pr piece. They called on O’hoppe and the angels hung up
That was more for the guy who said the Cubs should of traded for Thaiss. I just put it in the wrong spot. My bad. Besides the Cubs could make a deal right now for one of the Dodgers C’s who are never going to see Chavez Ravine anyway and been better off than with O’Hoppe.. That might even still happen because Will Smith is there forever. You can still trade Minor Leaguers.
Another guy who fires up way too often. You’re saying 5 Top 100 prospects for a .260 hitting C is a fair price? I can see how the Angels have been so bad for so long with fans like that. Wow. You keep your C and we’ll keep our guys and you’ll still be in last place for the next ten years. Pathetic.
@unclemike1525 he only had 168 at bats last year, and had 14 homeruns. He was best catching prospect was blocked by realmuto. The offer would’ve to be substantial because he’s only 24 with control, and hasn’t experienced hiccups besides his shoulder injury last year. I also agree it wasn’t going to happen just seems like it was leaked as a see we tried.
And were completely justified in going ” Are you out of your mind? It’s fine. The Cubs will get somebody to pair with Amaya next year until Aliendo gets here. We’ll be OK. With Rendon, Trout and no pitching, The Angels are still in ” The Twilight Zone” For years.
This article is a little untimely because Logan has struggled in August. However, on August 1st, he was hitting .280 with 16 HRs and 46 RBIs. Many here on the left coast were pushing for him to be an all star. His numbers matched up favorably.
O’Hoppe, Neto, and Schanuel are a decent core for the Angels moving forward. No way was Logan going anywhere.
The Cubs wouldn’t be “better off” than getting OHoppe, OHoppe is a great catcher, low cost with several years of control. I’m not saying the Cubs shouldn’t possibly attempt to trade with the Dodgers for a catching prospect but you have this delusion that prospects are all magically better than players doing it at the professional level.
This is rich coming from a dude who apparently roots for a team which has won one world series in 120 years.
Nukeg, and don’t forget about Moore next year. That’s a solid young core of 4 there. Throw in Dana on the pitching side next year, and the Angels aren’t actually to far away from a playoff spot. Saying they do sign a big time arm in the off-season. Maybe Arte will actually pony money up on pitching for a change. I dunno,
@plugnplay it’s possible moore gets called up in a couple weeks. Alot of the scouts were saying his bat might not translate with the wood bat, but it’s looking like that’s not the case, and he’s ready
For sure rex, Moore will put a pause on the Perry haters for a bit. He might turn out to be the perfect pick in there slot. 2b was a position of need, and to get a potential player like Moore there was great. Now extend Rengifo for 3b, and the IF is set for 4 plus years, also with O’Hoppe at C, pretty solid 5. Rendon can count his money being a bench player.
Having three decent ML players doesn’t matter all that much when your farm system is barren. Whether the Angels kept OHoppe or not, they should have hosted a fire sale, turn around and sign a bunch of flip candidates again for 25 and sold again.
The Angels are one of the most dysfunctionally ran organizations in the league because they refuse to look at things logically, there is not 5 free agents the Angels can sign that will put them ahead of the Astros, Rangers or Mariners and they refuse to deal anyone with any type of “value”.
Drascoo- I’m not sure what Rexies deal is, But I don’t have any idea who he’s trying to convince. If it’s me I agree that these Clowns couldn’t build a Tinker Toy house. These morons couldn’t build a team around Ohtani and Trout. Now he’s trying to say they’ll build a team around O’Hoppe? He belongs in Comedy Clubs not on a baseball chat board. He’s kidding right? These jokers had maybe the 2 biggest stars in Baseball and just sat there and collected the money and did nothing to help them out. Now they’ll build a team around O’Hoppe? Wow, I’m not sure if he’s taking too many drugs or not enough. He needs help either way.
Why are you acting like the Angels are some kind of powerhouse franchise?
The Angels have been in existence for 65 years, over those 65 years, the Cubs have been more successful so really the joke is on you.
@uncleclown you can’t say anything without trolling and being negative all I said it was going to be a big ask for the trade that never happened and the deadline passed. How many years did it take the cubs to win a world series so go somewhere else. The cubs record isn’t that far from the angels. Wow other drug joke. Can you please send another 30 replies because I’m bored
@PnP Moore was a good pick based on the Angels need. The Angels farm system completely lacks power. The Angels also need a vocal leader. Moore fills both of these roles. He also was a below slot value draft agent, which allowed the Angels to sign Trey Gregory Alford. TGA was a top 50 draft pick prior to committing to Virginia, which caused him to slide down to 105.
This is the best collection of under 25 talent the Angels have had in a long time, O Hoppe, Neto, Schanuel, Moore, Soriano, Joyce, Dana. I am sure they will find a way to screw it up. Perry is in the last year of his contract, so he may be gone. There may be a reason the Angels kept a lot of the players signed beyond this year, Moreno could be planning to sign one of his patented bad, big signings this off season.
Excuse me, are you saying O’Hoppe is a bum? It was robbery he wasn’t an all-star this year. Logan is a very solid player.
Unclemike1525
What are you smoking in your pipe?
Nothing like you and your boy Rexie I can tell you that. My brain is fine. You guys are the weirdo’s that are trying to convince everybody you can build a team around O’Hoppe when you couldn’t even build a .500 team around Ohtani and Trout. When you’re done, Wipe yourself.
Every player is available for the right price.
The Cubs had 3 big needs at the deadline. A 3B, A Closer and a C. They got a couple of late inning arms and Paredes. That was a nice get. Pearson was a lottery pick but Neely looks like the real deal. They’re not Closers but they’re big arms to go with the 6 or 7 the Cubs already have. Someone will emerge but probably not this year. Now all they need is a C and a short term Closer. Should be a fairly easy off Season for Hoyer. As long as he keeps his wallet in Ricketts pants.
Bethancourt has looked pretty good. I swear he’s thrown out as many runners in a couple weeks as the rest of the catchers had the entire year. He’s also had some clutch hitting. The cubs seem to draft or sign internationally nothing but catchers and ss. It’s pretty disappointing they don’t have anything in the pipelines. The Cubs have a glut of outfielders, it’s time to start trading from a position of strength to shore up the bullpen and catchers positions. o’Hoppe made a lot of sense but can also see why Anaheim wouldn’t bite.
The angles have worst farm system they cubs 2nd it depends what cubs were offering. If they offered any of these the angels would have said yes, Cade Horton (RHP)
Owen Cassie (OF)
Matt Shaw (3B)
Kevin Alcantara (OF)
James Triantos (2B)
Thank you Perry!
Perry traded Quero, who is a better prospect than any Angel in the system.
This team is a mess. If we had Quero, trading O’Hoppe might have made sense.
MLB came up with their top 100 prospect. We have the 75th and 81st. The entire system is a mess. It needs a complete overhaul.
O’Hoppe, Neto, Schanuel, Soriano and Joyce should be the Top 5 untouchables. Perhaps the Cubs should have tried for Matt Thaiss instead who seems better this season than any of those Cubs catchers.
What would it have taken for the Cubs to acquire O’Hoppe?
@The Name, you need to include Dana in that group.
@Logjammer D, at minimum 5 top 100 prospects. More likely 6 or more. The Marlins got 3 top 100 prospects for JT. And Logan has more control than JT did
ROTFLMAO. This guy is the reason I keep saying drugs are bad. Please learn to just say no. Juan Soto didn’t even get a return like that! Haaaaa Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Five top 100 prospects would be an unprecedented return. That is insane. And the Marlins got that many prospects because JT was A) better than O’Hoppe and B) much more established than O’Hoppe. I think O’Hoppe is a great talent but no one would decimate their farm system for one player.
And for a .260 hitter that is probably going to be his career best. The Cubs were looking for a better C. He’s better than what they had but at the time so was used toilet paper. And Amaya was always a threat to get better. So we’ll keep our #2 ranked Farm System and you can keep you’re 32 nd ranked one and your .260 C. And yeah, I counted a couple of Korean Teams that have better Farm Systems than the Angels. Too funny.
JT was not better than Ohoppe at this stage of their career. O’hoope is in year two of control. I guess your point is the reason of why the Cubs waisted their time going down this road.
Soto got 3, top 100 prospects. O’Hoppe has 4 years of control left. 24 years old. Now the question is, what it would take, to get the Angels even interested in trading him. For a team like the Angels who are trying to get good young players, and aren’t looking to completely tear it down to the studs. 5 would be at minimum what the Angels would need to hear, to even have a conversation with someone. Anyone can agree or disagree with how the Angels are trying to rebuild or reload. O’Hoppe has already established himself as an everyday player. Most catchers at 24, are still in the minors. Especially when it was a sellers market at the deadline.
5? sorry, not close.
3 might be a stretch
offer us three top 100s and we wouldnt hang up, two top 50s and a not-very-back guy and he might just change uniforms. ohoppe has immense value, as a young skilled catcher with all of his skills on the upswing, but the angels would need to see one of the best returns in recent history to consider a move
it would need to be soto-esque, comparable to realmuto, more than burnes, scott and adam got this year.
Except that Ohoppe has been quite a bit better in his age 24 season than JT and he has an additional year of control to what JT was at that point. At least Google stuff brü.
Could definitely see 3 top prospects , maybe more. O’Hoppe has turned out to be a sure thing and a catcher who hits for power at that. He possesses strong leadership qualities also. As soon as the bias East coast media realizes he is a stud, he will get his due and be an all star.
@red it would be the cubs top 5 in the farm to get it in done. This was obviously a pr move, to make it look like they were trying.the angels wouldn’t trade a young building block for nothing when they didn’t trade pillar citing the return wasn’t enough.
I told you, Drugs are bad for you. Get help. Keep him. And it’s fine. The Cubs aren’t trading 5 top 100 prospects for anybody. Much less somebody the Angels. Hey he’s all yours. Not the only C in the game. If you want some top 100 prospects why don’t you try drafting some. Oh that’s right. You suck at it. Despite drafting at the top of the order every year.
Do you realize what you are saying???
6 top 100 prospects kills the entire farm, and 4 top 100s was enough to get multiple years of Juan Soto back in 2022
For o’hoppe, a rising star, it would take either a top 50 centerpiece with additions or 3 fringe top 100s
@unclemike are you angry because your withdrawing because that’s the only thing you say with substance. Never have I said it was going to happen just saying it would wipe out the farm. Top 5 of the cubs system isn’t 5 top 100 prospects. Angels aren’t trading a 24 year old catcher for anything less. Heck they kept pillar a retiring player because the return wasn’t enough. Apparently you haven’t seen what Christian moore is doing in the minors, and looking like he will be called up in a week or so.
Drugs are bad for you. Get help. Keep him. And it’s fine. The Cubs aren’t trading 5 top 100 prospects for anybody.
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I think LAA fans tend to be slightly delusional. Wong has been slightly better over the past two, but pretty similar in most respects.
The RS wouldn’t get a fraction of that for Wong if/when we trade hm.
It would not have to be Soto-esque. What is wrong with you people. If you go by baseballtradevalues (yes, only one opinion, but an unbiased one) O’Hoppe is worth basically a tiny bit more than Matt Shaw. That’s ONE prospect from the Cubs. The idea that he is worth 3 to 5 times that is utterly and completely absurd.
@clem fandango I’m not saying he’s worth that but simply saying that would be the offer for the angels to accept. They don’t even have a catcher in the system that’s even ready. They wouldn’t trade a building block that’s 24 for fair value hence the reason why it didn’t happen. It would have to be a massive overpay.
Apparently the Angels don’t agree with you because they didn’t want to hear what the Cubs would give up at all. I’m really not sure who would trade a budding superstar in year 2 for any amount of prospects. I think you all get caught up in the prospect hype a little too much especially when they know what they have with him.
If you undervalue prospect hype you become the angels, if you overvalue it you become the orioles
Orioles seem a lot better right now compared to the angels…
It’s always safer to act like your prospects are future stars than to act like they are future journeymen
@sad looking like they hit on their first rounder for the third year in a row, and he’ll be getting called up soon.
I think 9 would be the target but 7 would be fair
Clem Fandango
The idea that he is worth 3 to 5 times that is utterly and completely absurd.
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I liked the trade when they made it, and still like O’Hoppe. But Angel fans are comparing him to a future HOF player, and maybe a 1st guy.
He’s good, but more like everyday good.
they didn’t want to hear what the Cubs would give up at all.
=========================
It’s also the team that never listened on Trout or Ohtani, and now Trout is an albatross, and Ohtani gone.
Not to mention that the Angels also chose to hold onto Rengifo, Anderson, Ward, and a few moveable RPs.
@joebrady that’s was my point if they didn’t trade pillar and guys with a year or two of control they weren’t looking to move o’hoppe, if they did it would be for a big offer. I don’t think anyone thinks he’s a hall of famer, but this is essentially his first year, and he was a top rated catching prospect before that. Also don’t have anyone to replace him.
The only reason I got involved in this pitiful stupid article is because the Cubs and Sox were both off on a Sunday. Way to go MLB! Super job. And then the pathetic delusional fans like you showed up Rex. It’s not hard to see why the Angels set the bar so low when all they have to do is mail it in to appease you. To think that any C would be worth 5 top 100 prospects just shows you where the team is at. Anyone who thinks that needs some Electro Shock therapy to have his brain restarted. Anyway the deal wasn’t made so I have no idea why you’re bleating on about the worth of O’Hoppe. He’ll be there on 60 win teams until he can get out of there in FA. Have fun but this has become boring so bye.
I don’t know why they only do 4 games for the crosstown showdown. They should have 4 games in a row. 2 at Wrigley 2 at Comiskey. Make it a 4th of July weekend tradition. And next the 4th of July happens to be on a weekend. It would be perfect. Each year they alternate where the first 2 games are played.
Wrigley Field also seriously needs to host the all star game too. I wanna see some one hit the manual scoreboard.
They really have only two challenging series remaining (home against the Yanks and road vs. Dodgers.) Phillies too but who knows what their situation will be the end of Sept. Sneaking into the WC is completely realistic.
Yes they have a shot–but need to realize that EVERY team ahead of them in the wild card standings as of today (Padres, Diamondbacks, Braves, Mets, Giants and Cardinals_ — EVERY ONE OF THEM — own the tiebreaker over the Cubs. So, at this point, the 3.5 that they are behind is actually 4.5. Much like last year, they have put themselves in a little tougher spot than it would have been a few years back. There is no more room to lose any series to any non-playoff type team.
So the Gurdians aren’t better than them? They should sweep them this series?
The proverbial teams headed in opposite directions cliche. Cleveland is in a 2nd half free fall. Cubs take at least 2/3
Wow losing to Baltimore and Arizona isn’t the Cubs. Good luck with that.
Cubs split season series with AZ 3-3 and swept Baltimore while out scoring them 21-2 in three games. No luck required.
I’m confused why aren’t the Cubs 30 games over .500? A juggernaut like that.
Shouldn’t have let Contreras leave
Exactly. I know he’s not good defensively but he can hit. They could have abused him upbwith someone better defensively and alternated at DH.
Abused ? I wrote this on my phone so it won’t let me edit it. I was trying to write that they could have paired him up with …
That’s exactly the catcher the Cubs needed to target whether they could get him or not. If you are the Angels you have to consider the return.
O’Hoppe is a stud. The type of player you build around.
Cool the Cubs wanted him but I’m glad Perry kept him.
The Cubs should have went after Diaz from Colorado. So what if he’s a free agent after this season. The Rockies didn’t even end up trading him probably wouldn’t have costed too much.
Like what I’m seeing from Amaya lately and Bethancourt hasn’t been bad. Small sample but the bottom of the order has been doing pretty darn good.
Bethancourt has been a breath of fresh air. Some clutch hitting and can actually throw out base stealers. I’m sure the hitting won’t last but he’s been solid.
At a minimum, the Cubs should sign James McCann as a FA. OPS+ in the mid 70s both years with the Os. Very good defensive and clubhouse guy. Not going to be that expensive and better than many of the FAs.
Where are they going to find a long term catcher? Better organizations than the Cubs have failed at that. Look at the Rays.
Logan OHoppe? Lord. He’s comparable to Sean Murphy 2022 and Atlanta gave up William Contreras and 5 OK prospects to get Sean Murphy.
You overpay big time for young catchers with an OPS+ over 110. Realmuto, Contreras and Murphy are about the only ones that have been traded and the teams that traded them were either dumb (the Braves) or were in full rebuilds.
Hoyer dropped the ball not bringing back Contreras. Cardinals paid a very reasonable price for his contract, so it makes Jed look even worse.
I would have rather William than Willson.
So would I, but Willson was available and a proven commodity. Hoyer got cute thinking he was oh so smart for not signing him back.
This is what I love about baseball. I do not remember even one single fan wanting Contreras back. Most were upset they didn’t trade him earlier. But not a single fan wanted him back.
You know, until today.
Joe,
In all fairness, I wanted Hoyer to either trade him or extend him, and he did neither…
Seriously, I do not remember one fan wanting him back. And most were pretty hostile about it.
Joe,
You are very much correct on that. I can only speak for myself in wanting either a trade at that deadline or an extension. I was not happy with Hoyer with that particular outcome.
A lot of fans wanted him extended. When the cubs low balled him. They should’ve got something for him. Jed was an ID10T for not getting something for him.
Surprised that they didn’t inquire about Marchand from the Phillies. He probably outplayed Stubbs when Realmuto was on the IL.
Contreras may not be a great defensive catcher but he’s passable with a good arm. His bat is very good for a catcher. If he hadn’t broke his arm and missed 6 weeks he’d be having a massive year. Good teammate . Glad he’s here in the Lou
After the seeing the asking price and return for fringe middle relief pitchers Angels would of easily walked away with 3 maybe 4 of cubs top 10 prospects O’hoppe is a stud was sad when Phillies traded him in his prime I feel like he’s gonna be a guy that hits 265 25 90
Allegedly they offered triantos, Cassie and another prospect but, who knows
That’s a horrible trade. Triantos and Caissie are on the short list of untouchables. I’d rather get zero production from the catcher spot than trade away those 2 plus one more.
@unclemike. So your saying you were bored and decided to the troll the page. I said it was a pr stunt not going to happen and angels would ask for the top 5, I didn’t know they had that many in the top 100, so yeah I was wrong but either way it was never going to happen.
This Morgenstern guy is yet another poor MLBTR writer. When “yet” starts the sentence, there shouldn’t be a comma after it. Then this disaster.
“Thus, the Cubs struck out on O’Hoppe and ultimately decided to stick with what they had: Amaya, Bethancourt, and, once he returns from the IL, Nido.”
What a mess. Leo, would you ever write this sentence?
“Thus, the Cubs struck out on O’Hoppe and ultimately decided to stick with what they had: Amaya, Bethancourt, and Nido, once he returns from the IL.”
Of course you would. It says the same thing and conveys the same message. So there is no reason to write it the way you did by interrupting the list and adding an extra comma.
“prospect Moises Ballesteros, but he is only 20 years old, and Sharma points out that the team isn’t sold on his defense. ”
If he doesn’t have at least obvious potential ability defensively by now, he’s pretty iffy for the majors in the future. It’s the catcher position – mainly, at least be able to handle pitchers and defense.