With the Cubs fresh off a letdown of a season and perhaps seeking to shake up their core, catcher Willson Contreras was the subject of trade speculation at the beginning of the winter. Contreras hasn’t gone anywhere, though, and now looks likely to begin the 2020 campaign as a member of the Cubs – the only organization he has known since signing out of Venezuela in 2009.
The 27-year-old Contreras discussed trade buzz centering on him Monday, saying (via Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times): “This past winter, the trade rumors were more consistent than the year before, and I was aware of it. I was trying to not pay attention to it, but it was impossible. Every time I was on social media, a new article was coming out about me being traded. Now that I’m here, I feel blessed once again. I’m happy to be here. I love this organization and my teammates. I’m really excited to have another great 2020 season with all my team.”
At last check, the Cubs weren’t pleased with the offers they’d gotten for Contreras. He’s one of the most valuable catchers in the game, and there weren’t many high-end backstops available in free agency, so they understandably held out for a sizable return. To this point, though, no club has presented a proposal acceptable enough for the Cubs.
Now, it appears Contreras will at least start the upcoming campaign as a Cub. And despite the rumors that have surrounded him, Contreras is open to remaining a Cub for the long haul. Contereras, who batted .272/.355/.533 with 24 home runs in 409 plate appearances last season, is willing to discuss a long-term deal with the team. He said Monday that he’s “always going to be open about talking to the Cubs about an extension.”
There haven’t been any extension talks between Contreras and the Cubs this offseason, according to Wittenmyer. However, Chicago’s not under immediate pressure to lock up the two-time All-Star. Contreras is under control via arbitration for the next three seasons, and he’ll make $4.5MM in 2020. That salary’s a bargain relative to what he brings to the table.
Cubs are finished this year. Starting pitching is too weak now to compete
Thanks for your astute assessment. I’ll call the Ricketts family and have them cancel the season.
Surprised they haven’t already after learning the players were unionized
Just got a few looks at the office – audibly snorted laughing at this comment. Kudos my friend.
LOL
Dodgers will always remain regular season champs…
We have Chirinos now, so the Rangers would have no use.
Contreras is a clear upgrade over Chirinos. But I would have to say Texas need a 3rd baseman and outfielder over a catcher. Bryant would be great for them, and maybe a Puig signing. As a Dodgers fan I know far too well the talent Puig has. That guy could be right there with Betts, Yelich, Bellinger, and Trout. Puig struggles in the dog days of summer. But come big game time or Playoff time he just gets his head right and focuses like he should every game. Its frustrating, but the fans love him and he would help the Rangers alot.
Please come to Padres!
When have the padres ever parted w a bunch of prospects ?? Neva gonna happen
2015 you moron.
That they would look at trading a catcher with his numbers, tells you they are looking at tearing the whole thing down, to rebuild it.
The boys have grown up, and it’s now becoming too expensive to keep those boys together.
Every general manager in the league should listen to offers for every single player on their roster excluding mike trout, if they aren’t listening to offers they aren’t doing their jobs…his numbers are nice and his contract is nice and if he signed long term with the cubs that would be rad and if a team offered a league average catcher and 3 top 50 prospects for him the cubs would be crazy not to take it…which is why he is still on the roster along with countless other superstars around the league who were in trade rumors all winter but weren’t traded, it’s the nature of the business
Cubs have him under control for 3 seasons so you can wait another season or 2 to see where he is at production wise. Catchers can have off seasons so I can understand other clubs not wanting to pay the high prospect(s) asking price.
If I’m Cubs GM, I sign Contreras and Baez, give Happ a starting job, trade Heyward for a SubWay sandwich, trade Bryant to the Angels for Trout, straight-up, make Schwarber a salad, then give him a first baseman’s glove, trade Rizzo to the Cardinals for Jack Flaherty, fire everyone of my front office staff and hire my friends in their places, so I could play Battlefield 5 a lot during working hours, and I’d have the organization completely redesign the Cub’s uniform design, having the uniforms changed to all black with only a bear’s growling face and bloody teeth as the logo. Easy. World Series championship in the bag.
Is reality hard for you?
Is sarcasm?
If reality finds me sexy enough.
Well done
It does not
Rizzo in a Cardinal uniform would be even worse than seeing Sutcliffe and Sutter wear those.
Other than the Trout part (Bryant is only worth 2/3 of Trout’s value), you had me until “so I could play Battlefield 5 a lot during working hours,” none of the rest before that part was far-fetched (other than the Trout trade; Rizzo for Flaherty is fine in that I’m not from one of them flyover states that beats off to how “great” the Cubs/Cardinals “rivalry” is)
Dumb.
“Rizzo for Flaherty is fine in that I’m not from one of them flyover states that beats off to how “great” the Cubs/Cardinals “rivalry” is”
Except for the part where they already have one of the best first basemen in baseball locked into a long-term contract…
Heyward for 12 inches of tube meat sounds pretty fair.
the team is being set up to sell off at the deadline. if they can get a haul for wily I understand trading him, there are a few frisky prospects coming up at C. kris I don’t get considering…. he’s kris bryant. cut almora, sign puig, taijuan.
One position where the Cubs have some organizational depth.
i love how we’re angry at the Cubs for tearing their core up because its too expensive, yet they havent done it yet. i really question if they are actively trying to trade any of their starts as some believe they are.
And the assumption that development is linear and NONE of the core will improve. Guess improvement is reserved for all other players and teams. Check the birth certificates, the Cubs core is hardly ready for social security.
Trading Contreras doesn’t really help cubs achieve the goal of getting below the cap penalty. If they attach Heyward to him then they can clear tons of room but doubtful that would happen. But they could easily pair him with Quintana for CF and young pitching which kinda sounds like a TB deal. They have both CF and P to spare and Contrera would cement them as a fav for WC spot
I fail to see the point if trading him, but I understand entertaining offers. He is cost controlled to a point, catchers do not make much via arb compared to other players. I don’t know if they have a young catcher in the farm to replace him. I would always deal a promising catching prospect for a proven catcher though. It is one of the hardest positions to fill at an elite level.
mets should try to get him.
Mondesi and Buxton should be the Rays targets. They will put up all-star numbers everywhere except c more than likely. Platooning six or seven positions. Dh, 1st, 2nd, Lf, Cf, Rf and 3rd. 3rd less I don’t believe they have a left-handed 3rd baseman. The Rays could trade Zunino plus for Contreras but I think the cost is still to prohibitive. Zunino will have better bats all around him this year and I think the Rays will have career years for a lot of players. KK, Zunino, Addams, Diaz and maybe Martinez.
Don’t see the Cubs being much more than a 85 win team this year. Starting rotation, despite several stellar names, is nowhere near as strong as it once was with those same pitchers.
If Contreras could bring them a solid SP prospect and a CF with more oomph in his bat than Almora, I’d make that trade. Victor Caratini is a capable MLB catcher.
I’m sure the Braves would like to have Contreras instead of treading water each year with over-thirty guys like Flowers, Suzuki and now, d’Arnaud.
Braves have a CF prospect (I think Pasche is his name) and no shortage of young and impressive pitching prospects. I believe there’s a match there the Cubs ought to explore.
At 85 wins they should tie the Cardinals for 2nd.
Braves have multiple CF prospects in the top-30 (Pache/Waters). You’re not getting Pache. Focus on Waters and you can get more pitching, which your farm desperately needs. More than likely, Willson’s younger bro: William, would be included in the return. HOWEVER, ATL likes Shea Langeliers so much they took him at #8 overall in 2019. They see him as the C of the future. If they acquire 4 years of Contreras at arb prices – that 1st rd pick last season is not nearly as valuable.
Frankly, until something happens with Kris Bryant – nothing will happen, as the some of the pieces of either trade is affected.
Next to Yadi he’s the best. Which is why you extend him.
Contreras is better than Molina.
Will be interesting at trade deadline if a team thinks it’s a catcher or 3b/of/ away from winning it all or making it over the top in a division . Nationals look like a good trade for Bryant at deadline