The Chicago Cubs certainly tried. They had been adamant that they were not going to enter a rebuilding process for 2022, instead hoping to reload and get right back into contention. They made several additions to their pitching staff and lineup, notably landing Seiya Suzuki and Marcus Stroman in their attempt to reach the 2022 postseason.
None of that has worked. While Suzuki has been everything the Cubs could have hoped for, the Cubs have disappointed. They find themselves at 11-19 entering Friday and are all but certain to be putting the ‘For Sale’ sign up once again.
Three possible trade destinations for Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras
Willson Contreras is likely to be one of those players. The Cubs’ catcher could be one of the more coveted players at the trade deadline in the coming months, especially as teams look for upgrades both behind the plate and in their lineups. As he is due to be a free agent in the coming offseason, and an extension does not seem likely, the Cubs are likely to put him on the trade block.
Where will Willson Contreras end up? Let’s take a look at three possible landing spots for the Chicago Cubs catcher.
New York Mets
Catcher would seem to be a strange area for the Mets to target, especially after handing a four year deal to James McCann.
However, McCann has not exactly produced with the bat. To be fair, neither have any of the Mets’ catchers, as they have produced a collective .198/.236/.267 batting line with one homer and ten RBI this season. That is not the type of production the Mets would need from their catcher given their World Series aspirations.
Enter Contreras. Even if he is not the defensive option that McCann is, he would be a drastic upgrade in the lineup. His .304/.413/.522 batting line with four homers and six doubles in his 109 plate appearances far exceeds what Mets’ catchers have produced this season.
Having Contreras as a rental would also work for the Mets’ future. Francisco Alvarez is one of the top catching prospects in the game and is expected to make his major league debut next year. Contreras would not be an impediment to his ascension at all.
The New York Mets are eyeing a return to the postseason. Getting more production from the catcher spot could make a difference.