Chicago Cubs: Missing out on Rene Rivera hints at team’s backup catcher plans

Young guns chomping at the bit

The Cubs have a lot of interesting possibilities in Victor Caratini. The idea of having a young, inexpensive, switch-hitting catcher who can also play both corner infield positions is tempting.

In this scenario, Schwarber’s presence on the active roster once again makes it easier to use the backup catcher’s bat (in this case Caratini) as a pinch hitter.

Or another team could value him highly enough that the Cubs might include him in a trade. A year ago, Caratini wasn’t even listed as one of the top 10 catching prospects by MLB Pipeline. So as fans we probably project his trade value higher than most clubs. But he could be included as part of a package deal.

Or the Cubs might prefer to have Caratini start the season in Triple-A. If Chicago needs a DL replacement, he may be one of the first to get his name called in 2018.

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A social media star – and solid backstop

As a catcher at Iowa who got called up to the majors last season for a cup of coffee, Taylor Davis could see Chicago again this year.  But I believe that the Cubs envision Davis as depth at the catching position. Think similar to the role Federowicz served in during the 2016 season.

If they thought highly of Davis and that he was ready for the Major Leagues, they would have called him up sooner. Instead, they dealt for Avila and Rivera last season when Contreras was injured.

Instead, he will start the season as the third catcher in the organization if Caratini is either traded or the Major League backup. If both Davis and Caratini end up in Iowa at the start of the season it will truly be a luxury to have two catchers at the Triple-A level that could be called up if needed.

Another catching prospect

Ian Rice is another catching prospect in the Cubs minor league system. Last year he finished his season at Double-A Tennessee. He may soon get promoted to Iowa and could potentially make his Major League debut later this season.

He isn’t a threat to earn the backup catcher job out of spring training. But the Cubs organization may soon have the good problem of having too many catching prospects at the Triple-A level. Or did his presence create upward pressure to at least begin the season by giving a young catcher a chance to hold down the backup job in the Major Leagues?

What’s next?

If the Cubs had catchers such as Caratini and Davis in 2014 they would have been fighting for a chance to be the everyday catcher. Instead, it is an embarrassment of riches for the Cubs to have so many good young catchers. And that two of them may begin the season in Iowa, another in Tennessee. Plus, Contreras was a prospect not so long ago, as well.