Chicago Cubs: Top 5 Destinations for Willson Contreras
Chicago Cubs GM Theo Epstein is in sale mode this offseason. With that in mind, let’s take a look at 5 destinations suited for Wilson Contreras.
This offseason has been the most active that MLB has seen in a couple years, and even though the Winter Meetings have concluded there are still a lot of potential moves left to make. Dallas Keuchel, Hyun Jin Ryu and Josh Donaldson are still free agents. Meanwhile the trade market is also active, with discussions surrounding Mookie Betts, Francisco Lindor and a handful of players currently employed by the Chicago Cubs.
Since winning the World Series in 2016 the Cubs have declined sharply. They went to the NLCS in 2017, lost to the Colorado Rockies in the Wild Card game of 2018 and then completely missed the playoffs in 2019. Now they’re actively shopping Kris Bryant, Willson Contreras and Javier Baez.
Bryant is probably the most likely but everyone is waiting to find out how his service time grievance shakes out before moving. Baez is a fan favorite and possibly the most likely to receive an extension.
Which brings us to Contreras, who has the most control left with three years until he reaches free agency. It’s still more likely that the Cubs hang onto their cornerstone catcher, but let’s look at the top five destinations for him anyway.
Los Angeles Angels
The Angels are far and away the best match for Willson Contreras and no it isn’t just because Joe Maddon is the new manager there (although that does help).
The biggest reason for this match is that the Angels are a team trying to make it back to the postseason for the first time since 2014 and are seeming to go for it in 2020 seeing as they just signed Anthony Rendon.
Contreras would be a solid addition to a lineup with Rendon, Shohei Ohtani and of course Mike Trout. He would also fill a position of need for LA. Right now the only catchers on the roster are: Max Stassi, who just had hip surgery and has a career .611 OPS even when he’s healthy. Second is Anthony Benboom, who has 54 career at bats.
That’s it. That’s the list.
Contreras is 27, with three years of control and just hit a career high 24 homers in just 105 games. The Angels are ready to win now and have the farm system to give the Cubs what they want (as long as it’s not Jo Adell).
Chicago Cubs: Top 5 Destinations for Willson Contreras
Houston Astros
Similar to the Angels the Astros currently do not have a proven catcher on their roster after losing both Martin Maldonado and Robinson Chirinos to free agency, leaving only unproven youngsters in line to start behind the plate in 2020.
The Astros are also looking for ways to stay at or near the top of the AL after Gerrit Cole was poached by the Yankees, making them the new likely favorites in the AL and maybe all of baseball.
Contreras with his three years of control and career .822 OPS can remedy both problems for Houston. He gives the Astros one of the top catchers in the league for the foreseeable future and can slide right into the middle of the lineup with Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa.
The Astros could pay the price too, because even though many of their prospects have graduated in recent years they still have some strong prospects like Kyle Tucker, Forrest Whitley and Freudis Nova
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays already have a great young group with Cavan Biggio, Bo Bichette, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and of course Vlad Guerrero Jr.
Why not make it a fifth with Willson Contreras?
Currently slated to start at catcher on Opening Day 2020 for Toronto is Danny Jansen, he of the career .667 OPS.
Seems like an upgrade might be in order.
Again Contreras has the three years of control that still fits in the window of when the Blue Jays want to compete again, and they aren’t paying anyone right now anyway so an extension is very possible.
It also helps to have the 10th ranked farm system (by Jim Callis of MLB.com) so they can offer the Cubs some good pieces that could be help Chicago soon.
Chicago Cubs: Top 5 Destinations for Willson Contreras
Texas Rangers
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In case you haven’t heard the Texas Rangers are opening a new ballpark in 2020, and they want to give fans a reason to come and see the product on the field. They chased Anthony Rendon and obviously missed, they’ve traded for Corey Kluber but there’s no telling if he’ll be the Klubot.
By all reports Texas is engaged on names like Josh Donaldson and Marcell Ozuna but if they whiff there too they’ll be in big trouble.
Even if they don’t whiff and snag one of those two (or both) trading for Contreras still makes sense. Imagine a lineup with Shin Soo Choo, Joey Gallo, Josh Donaldson and Willson Contreras? The Rangers would legitimately have a Wild Card shot if their rotation stays healthy.
Remember, the team they had in 2019 hung around the Wild Card picture until late July. Add a couple more pieces with Kluber and you have something.
Plus Texas has the #14 farm system according to Callis and again….three years of control.
Chicago Cubs
I mean…duh.
At the end of the day the best spot for Contreras is the Cubs. They are fully capable of retooling this team over the next three years and if they do they’ll need their cornerstone behind the plate.
Contreras is a fan-favorite and sometimes the heart and soul of this Cubs team. They’re noticeably different when he is on the field and I mean that in a good way.
dark. Next. Red Sox reportedly discussing Mookie Betts trade
It’s impossible to tell what the Cubs will do this offseason, trading Bryant still seems like the most likely option and if that’s the case they’ll need Contreras even more.