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Cubs Sign Carson Kelly

By Anthony Franco | December 13, 2024 at 5:55pm CDT

The Cubs finalized a two-year free agent deal with catcher Carson Kelly on Friday evening. The CAA client is reportedly guaranteed $11.5MM with the chance to earn another $500K annually via incentives. Kelly will make $5MM salaries in each of the next two seasons and is guaranteed a $1.5MM buyout on a $7.5MM mutual option for 2027. He’d trigger a $250K bonus for starting 81 and 91 games in each season. Chicago already had a 40-man roster vacancy after dealing two roster players in this afternoon’s Kyle Tucker trade.

Kelly was the top unsigned catcher. The thin market has moved quickly. Travis d’Arnaud, Kyle Higashioka, Gary Sánchez, Danny Jansen, Jacob Stallings and Austin Hedges have all gotten MLB deals. Kelly joins Higashioka and d’Arnaud in securing a second guaranteed year and exceeding the $10MM mark.

The righty-swinging backstop had a nice year in 2024. Kelly started the season particularly well, hitting .240/.325/.391 with seven home runs in 203 trips to the plate for the Tigers. Detroit dealt him to the Rangers at the deadline. That was designed to give Kelly a chance to join a contender, but the Rangers sputtered while the Tigers made a surprise playoff push in the final couple months. Kelly’s bat tailed off after the move, as he hit .235/.291/.343 with two homers over 31 games as a Ranger.

That mediocre finish led Texas to pursue Higashioka instead. Still, Kelly’s combined .238/.313/.374 slash line in 313 plate appearances is solid work from a part-time catcher. Statcast graded him positively for his work behind the plate, crediting him with better than average framing and blocking metrics. While Kelly’s raw arm strength was middle of the pack, he cut down an above-average 26.3% of basestealers.

That was a rebound after Kelly had consecutive poor offensive showings in 2022 and ’23. He combined for a .210/.281/.320 slash between the Diamondbacks and Tigers. Kelly had intermittently shown the upside to be a true #1 catcher early in his career in Arizona. He has since settled in as a quality part-time player.

That’s the role he should play in Chicago. The Cubs can somewhat evenly divide playing time between Kelly and 25-year-old Miguel Amaya. A former top prospect, Amaya struggled early in the year before going on a tear in the final two months of the season. He ended the season with a .232/.288/.357 slash over 363 plate appearances. The strong finish wasn’t enough for the Cubs to forego the catching market entirely, yet it lessened their urgency to entertain trading from the top of the farm system for a clear starter.

Kelly’s salary bumps Chicago’s projected payroll to roughly $199MM, according to the calculations at RosterResource. The $5.75MM average annual value pushes their estimated competitive balance tax number to $215MM. That leaves them around $25MM below the base luxury tax threshold.

Robert Murray of FanSided first reported on Monday that the Cubs and Kelly were closing in on a deal. Jeff Passan of ESPN was first to report the $11.5MM guarantee. ESPN’s Jesse Rogers first reported the presence of the ’27 mutual option and the potential $500K in annual incentives. Sahadev Sharma of the Athletic had the salary breakdown and specifics on the bonuses. Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.

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Chicago Cubs Newsstand Transactions Carson Kelly

Yankees, Wilking Rodríguez Agree To Minor League Deal
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Pirates, Carson Fulmer Agree To Minor League Contract
View Comments (39)
Post a Comment

39 Comments

  1. mlbnyyfan

    7 months ago

    The Cubs could have had Trevino in a package for Bellinger instead. Let’s make a deal

    Reply
    • sad tormented neglected mariners fan

      7 months ago

      Trevino isn’t that good though

      7
      Reply
  2. This one belongs to the Reds

    7 months ago

    Another catcher gone. Seems like a lot for a backup.

    5
    Reply
    • kellin

      7 months ago

      Thats just the going rate for players, in general.

      D’Arnaud got 6 million/year for two years, and he’s a nominally better backstop than Carson.

      2
      Reply
      • This one belongs to the Reds

        7 months ago

        “for large market players”

        Fixed it for you.

        2
        Reply
      • Rexhudler86

        7 months ago

        @kellin. Exactly the angels signings aren’t looking bad now. Glad perry struck early. Especially the catcher’s market. Even soler for 2/26 wasn’t bad.

        4
        Reply
      • YourDreamGM

        7 months ago

        This contract is nothing. Should out perform it. Awesome to get 2 years.

        1
        Reply
    • Franco27

      7 months ago

      He will play a lot. Better defense than Amaya.

      2
      Reply
    • Fever Pitch Guy

      7 months ago

      This – Vazquez and his .575 OPS is getting $10M next year.

      Jansen and his .623 OPS is getting paid $8M next year.

      Seems like the only team that doesn’t understand the value of catchers is the Red Sox.

      1
      Reply
      • steldarl87

        7 months ago

        You’ve got to be kidding, Fever. You think Jason Varitek didn’t fully scout Teel and give his input before they dealt him? You assume they don’t value catchers—an organization with a history, even a recent one, of prioritizing them. Or do you think dealing Vazquez for Abreu (and Valdez) is a move they shouldn’t have made?

        Reply
        • Fever Pitch Guy

          7 months ago

          stel – How much do you think Tek had a chance to work with and observe Teel? When Teel was playing in the minors Tek was traveling with the Red Sox.

          But that’s besides the point, just because ANY prospect gets traded that doesn’t mean it’s because they suck. Like Loomer said, the White Sox had the leverage and called the shots.

          What does history have to do with anything? Which of today’s players or coaching staff or scouts or front office staff had anything to do with guys like Tek or Fisk?

          It’s sad when people like you live in the past and don’t realize everything has changed, or don’t realize that many people responsible for past success are no longer with the team.

          I have been a huge supporter of the Vazquez trade since the day it happened, in fact I again posted as such just a couple days ago.

          Reply
  3. HalosHeavenJJ

    7 months ago

    Cubs knocking out they’ve Christmas list today.

    Still have to think a Belli trade announcement is coming.

    7
    Reply
    • This one belongs to the Reds

      7 months ago

      They are seeing an opportunity and doing something about it.

      Others are not.

      1
      Reply
    • Acoss1331

      7 months ago

      Hoyer got off his rear end is doing something this offseason. Last offseason he sat pat, and we got a mid team with mid results.

      6
      Reply
      • Dogbone

        7 months ago

        I don’t think acquiring Imanaga and Busch, was ‘sitting Pat’. Bullpen was destroyed by injuries in the first half . . . along with a couple months of poor hitting by some people they were counting on.

        2
        Reply
        • mike127

          7 months ago

          Thank you Dogbone—finally someone who realizes how decimated the pen and staff was early in the season. Before May 15th Steele, Taillon, Hendricks, Smyly, Merryweather, Wicks, Almonte, Alzolay and Thompson were all on the IL nd Brewer went on right after that. When you literally have seven or eight pitchers from the opening day expected roster on the IL at the same time, you get the results that happened.

          Poor Hector Neris had to play the role of 6th thru 9th inning guy because Almonte, Merryweather, and Alzoaly weren’t available.

          And don’t forget–during this exact same time Bellinger, Suzuki and Dansby were also on the IL.

          The Cubs easily improve 5-7 games with health and not trotting out pitchers number 15-19 on the depth chart.

          Every team gets injuries, so no excuses, yet it is hard to compete when that many pieces crumble at the same time.

          2
          Reply
        • Acoss1331

          7 months ago

          All valid points, but admittedly Hoyer could have done more with the bullpen last offseason.

          1
          Reply
  4. SeanStL

    7 months ago

    Cubs never get anyone good… especially today. 🙂

    1
    Reply
    • Cubsfeets23

      7 months ago

      Tucker isn’t good????
      And you’re not a troll.

      Have fun in last place!

      6
      Reply
    • YourDreamGM

      7 months ago

      Only 3% of mlbtr members can detect sarcasm Sean. The smiley face might raise it to 4% though.

      Reply
  5. Gwynning

    7 months ago

    Nobody asked but growing up in the 90s, Kelly Carson might have been the hottest chick on the Big Island. That is all, carry on.

    7
    Reply
    • SteveFinleyEnthusiast

      7 months ago

      On that note, Kelly Carlson from “Nip/Tuck” is also a baddie

      2
      Reply
      • Gwynning

        7 months ago

        Hmmm, unfamiliar but good lookin’ out Fins!

        5
        Reply
        • YourDreamGM

          7 months ago

          No idea who kelly is. Well have to ask Jeeves.

          1
          Reply
        • Gwynning

          7 months ago

          No idea who Jeeves is, I’ll have to ask Kelly.
          🙂

          4
          Reply
        • YourDreamGM

          7 months ago

          And still don’t know. Give it a try. The karaoke singer comes up. Not even the option did mean show only.

          Reply
      • Cincyfan85

        7 months ago

        Watch Starship Troopers 2 if you like Kelly Carlson.

        3
        Reply
    • Acoss1331

      7 months ago

      Jennifer Love Hewitt all the way for me!

      5
      Reply
      • Gwynning

        7 months ago

        Ironically, met J-Love in Hawaii! She was filming Birds of Paradise at the time. Super cute!

        1
        Reply
  6. Armaments216

    7 months ago

    So the Cubs signed Tucker-Carson today.

    11
    Reply
    • AHH-Rox

      7 months ago

      More appropriate combination for the White Sox.

      Reply
    • Edp007

      7 months ago

      Woke signing in Kelly Clarkson

      1
      Reply
  7. ray1

    7 months ago

    Add more pitching, Hoyer.

    3
    Reply
  8. fearthecub

    7 months ago

    The Cubs needed to do something to fortify catcher. I’m not sure this guy is the answer. Is he going to be any better than Amaya? Plus, you’re giving him nearly double the money you gave Tucker Barnhart, who was a massive bust. Roughly the same money you gave Yan Gomes, who was good for one year, and then got cut. I don’t see the point in spending this type of money on a backup catcher, especially someone that isn’t that much better than other replacement-level players available at a fraction of the cost. I hope I’m wrong, but this move does nothing for me.

    Reply
    • YourDreamGM

      7 months ago

      Go look at the available free agents and tell us who you would sign? I like Grandpal if only he was able to pop up and throw a baseball.

      Reply
    • Led Hoyer

      7 months ago

      Amaya was so bad last year. His bat was not existent for most of the season and his defense was worse. Bone headed plays, couldn’t throw out a runner, no clutch abs for most of the year. I thought Bethancourt was a massive upgrade. I haven’t been this excited about a league average catcher in a while.

      1
      Reply
  9. Jerome Pelka

    7 months ago

    MLB catching is a very difficult job! I think adding MLB experienced catching is great. Look at Maldonado who can’t hit playing for the Astros made the team better! With Thiass and now Kelly is satisfying. I give the catching upgrade a B-!

    2
    Reply
  10. YourDreamGM

    7 months ago

    A+ I liked most the catching contracts I seen but this is so low and he has such a high floor it’s hard to go wrong. Amazing signing.

    Reply
  11. Dumpster Divin Theo

    7 months ago

    Better than Carson Daly. Worse than Carson Palmer

    Reply

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