Chicago Cubs: Potential backup catchers for 2018

With Alex Avila a free agent, the Chicago Cubs will need to fill the role of backup catcher in 2018. So, who does that become?

The Chicago Cubs have their catcher of the future. His name is Willson Contreras, and the 25-year-old has the chance to become a special player on the North Side.

After making his debut during the summer of 2016, Contreras proceeded to hit 33 home runs and drive in 109 runs while slashing .278/.356/.494 in 193 games. In addition to an excellent slash line, Contreras owns a career 120 OPS+, further driving home the point that the youngster has a bright future ahead.

With the primary catcher’s role filled, the Cubs now must find a suitable replacement if Contreras gets injured or is unable to play at some point in the future.

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During Contreras’ tenure with the Cubs, there has been a revolving door on the depth chart behind the Cubs’ young stud. From Miguel Montero to Alex Avila to Rene Rivera and David Ross, the Cubs have leaned toward filling the role with a veteran presence.

Now, however, the Cubs may be forced to fill the role with less experienced players. Alex Avila is currently a free agent and would likely come with too hefty a price tag to sign as a back-up. In addition to that, Rene Rivera may also be out of the picture for the Cubs due to his underwhelming offensive numbers over the years (.220/.271/.349 career slash line).

With those two out of the picture, let’s look at a few other options.

Victor Caratini

Victor Caratini, 24, would likely be the best option for the role moving forward. Caratini was shipped to the North Side in 2014 by the Atlanta Braves. A year prior, the Braves had selected Caratini in the second round of the MLB draft.

In 2015, Caratini logged his first full season in the Cubs’ organization. At High-A, the 21-year-old appeared in 112 games and slashed .257/.342/.372. To go along with that, Caratini hit four home runs and recorded 53 RBI.

After earning a promotion to Double-A, Caratini built on his solid 2015 campaign. In 115 games for Tennessee, Caratini saw an uptick in his numbers, slashing .291/.375/.405. Over 412 at-bats, Caratini recorded six home runs and 47 RBI.

Following two solid seasons, Caratini set out to better himself once again. After another promotion, this time to Triple-A, Caratini broke out in a big way. In 83 games, the youngster slashed .342/.393/.558. The noticeable statistic in Caratini’s Triple-A campaign was his new-found power. After recording a slugging percentage around .400 in 227 games between High-A and Double-A, Caratini smashed ten home runs at Triple-A, upping that number to over .550.

Caratini’s reward for ripping up Triple-A for half a season was a call-up to the majors. On Jun. 28, 2017, Caratini made his major league debut. In 31 games for the Cubs in 2017, Caratini slashed .254/.333/.356 with one home run and two RBI.

Defensive ability

Caratini is first and foremost a catcher. He has logged over 2,500 innings at the position thus far in the minor leagues. In that time, Caratini amassed a .993% fielding percentage and threw out 30% of would-be base stealers.

Along with his ability to hold down the back-stop, Caratini has also racked up time at both corner infield positions. While the youngster seems to be less skilled at those positions compared to his primary one (14 errors in 1,090 1/3 innings compared to 16 errors behind the dish in 2,500+ innings), his versatility could prove handy during a long season.

Taylor Davis

Taylor Davis is another prospect in the Cubs’ system that could be ready for the majors in 2018. Davis, who is 28 years old, has had a lengthy minor league career, spanning seven seasons.

Most recently, in 2015, Davis slashed .311/.361/.483 with nine home runs and 43 RBI in 104 games between Double- and Triple-A. Following what was perhaps his best season to date, Davis took a step back in 2016. Over 296 at-bats (88 games), Davis slashed .264/.347/.351 with just two home runs and 30 RBI.

With more than 100 Triple-A games under his belt, Davis entered the 2017 season looking to finally break through and reach the majors. All it would take for the then 27-year-old to reach the big leagues was another 102 games in Iowa. In those games, Davis slashed .297/.357/.429 with six home runs and a career-best 62 RBI.

On Sept. 8, 2017, Davis made his major league debut. After going hitless in just one at-bat in his first game, Davis struggled to find success. In just 13 at-bats, Davis hit .231 with one double and one RBI.

Defensive ability

Davis, just like the younger Caratini, can play behind the dish and both corner infield spots. In 803 innings at first base, Davis has committed just four errors and has a better fielding percentage there (.995) than at the catcher’s position (.992).

Despite that, Davis has thrown out 25% of baserunners, a pretty solid number. In addition to that, Davis has a better range factor per nine and per game than Caratini does.

Overall, both Davis and Caratini have a similar ability with Caratini holding the advantage in the age department.

A.J. Ellis

A.J. Ellis would continue the Cubs’ streak of adding veterans as their backup catcher. Ellis is 36 years of age and will be turning 37 prior to the 2018 season.

Throughout his carer, Ellis has been primarily a backup catcher, logging more than 100 games in a season just twice in a ten-year career. Despite that, Ellis has carved out a nice career and could still have something left in the tank.

Ellis’ best full season came back in 2012 when the 31-year-old was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 133 games, Ellis slashed .270/.373/.414 with 13 home runs and 52 RBI. Along with that, Ellis logged an OPS+ of 118 and clubbed a career-high 20 doubles.

Following Ellis’ best offensive season, things took a down-high turn in the years that followed. From 2013 to 2016, Ellis slashed just .221/.323/.330 with 22 home runs and 120 RBI. In conjunction with that, Ellis was a below average hitter in that span, recording an OPS+ of just 84.

After joining a new team for the 2017 season, the Miami Marlins, Ellis continued to trend downward with the bat. In 51 games, the aging backstop slashed .210/.298/.371 with six home runs and 14 RBI.

While the last couple of seasons have not been kind to Ellis, the veteran does have value at the plate. For his career, Ellis owns a .337 OBP and is just seven percent below league average in OPS+. What that means is despite not always getting hits, Ellis has found a way to get on base at a solid clip.

Defensive ability

Throughout his career, Ellis has amassed over 4,700 innings behind the dish. In that time, Ellis owns a fantastic .997 fielding percentage as the veteran has committed just 15 errors in his career.

Despite that, Ellis is below average when it comes to defensive runs saved. Currently, Ellis has saved -16 runs, well below league average. However, Ellis has proven over the years that he has a good arm. Ellis owns a 33% caught stealing rate, with that number topping out at 45% in 2015. That 33% is five percentage points higher than the league average caught stealing percentage of 28%.

Overall, Ellis would be a cheap option to hold down the backup role moving forward. The veteran would likely cost less than $5 million and would bring an experienced presence to the clubhouse.

It could be time for the young guns to step up

There is not a strong free agent catching market this winter. Alex Avila and Jonathan Lucroy are likely seeking starting jobs, while players like Geovany Soto and Carlos Ruiz could be more trouble than they are worth.

For that reason, the 2018 season may be the passing of the baton to a younger, more home-grown group of Cubs’ players.

Any in-house option that the Cubs could come up with would be cheaper than the amount that would have to be paid to a veteran guy like A.J. Ellis. Now that Contreras has a couple of seasons under his belt, the need for a veteran mentor may be gone.

Nevertheless, if the Cubs do decide to stick with their in-house options, there is always the option of signing or trading for a veteran backstop at some point during the season.

Next: Chicago Cubs: 2017 – the year the Cubs were reigning world champions

Right now, the Cubs have options in regards to what route to take for the upcoming season. Whatever the decision becomes, know this. Contreras is primed to break out in 2018, which could limit the role of a backup, no matter who it is.