The Cubs have signed veteran catcher Curt Casali to a minor league contract, per the team’s transaction log at MLB.com. The BHSC client spent spring training with the Marlins but didn’t make the roster and was granted his release earlier this week.
Casali, 35, is a veteran of 10 big league seasons. He had a solid run with the Reds and (more briefly) the Rays from 2017-20, batting .262/.348/.444 over the life of 498 plate appearances, working primarily in a backup role. His bat has declined in the three seasons since, however.
Dating back to 2021, Casali has posted a lackluster .201/.311/.315 batting line — about 22% below league-average (78 wRC+) in a span of 504 plate appearances. He had a tough showing in camp with Miami, too, going just 1-for-17 with a double, a pair of walks and a pair of strikeouts.
Though his bat has seen a clear downturn in recent seasons, Casali is generally regarded as a sound defender. He nabbed six of 19 potential thieves on the bases last year (32%), and Statcast graded him as better than average when it comes to blocking pitches in the dirt. Defensive Runs Saved (+3) had a favorable view of his glovework as well.
The Cubs don’t have an immediate need behind the dish. Veteran Yan Gomes is slated to serve as the primary catcher for new manager Craig Counsell, and he’ll split time with 25-year-old Miguel Amaya, who’s out of minor league options and thus has to remain on the big league roster or else be traded or exposed to waivers. Presumably, Casali will head to Des Moines to suit up for the Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate and be one of their first considerations in the event of an injury on the big league catching corps.
Bull Durham vibes.
Confusing move at best. I thought that was what Hudson is for. How many C’s do they need in Iowa? Kind of a nothing signing. IMO.
Plenty! Because when you call up Casali and don’t need him, he gets DFA’s can get claim elect free agency, so you need another catcher to call up again if it happens again!
It’s common knowledge that in baseball you can’t have enough pitching, and the Cubs never made an effort to sign Snell or Montgomery. Opening day your starting pitcher gets hurt and you go out and sign a catcher who won’t even see the major leagues this year. Real nice effort Cubs front office real nice effort. After winning the World Series, I wish the Cubs ownership would’ve sold because they stopped caring about the product on the field and are more interested in buying up the neighborhood bars so they could charge outrageous prices outside the park as well as inside the park
Incompetent Steve Adams at it again. There should never be a comma before “too.” That has been passé for two decades now at least.
When he gets to Des Moines he should change his name to Crash. Hang in there CC!