Chicago Cubs: Kurt Suzuki could represent a solid back-up option

Chicago Cubs: Much-needed depth

Last season, Willson Contreras caught a ridiculous 1,109 2/3 innings. It was an easy career-high for Contreras, up from the previous season’s 821 1/3 innings. As discussed by our own Jake Misener, much of Contreras’ downturn was seemingly due to exhaustion. Contreras hit just .200 in the second half of the season.

Caratini did his best to fill in as the backup to Contreras, catching 290 2/3 innings. However, he turned in a lackluster defensive season while slashing a measly .232/.293/.304 with just two home runs and 21 RBI in 200 plate appearances. Caratini finished with a .268 wOBA and horrendous 65 wRC+. It is the reason why the Cubs could move on from Caratini heading into 2019.

In 2017, Kurt Suzuki started 71 games. On the other side of the coin Contreras, who had a career-year during that season, caught 91 games. Based on those numbers of games started, the Cubs bringing in Suzuki would allow Contreras the much-needed rest throughout the season while allowing him to continue to produce at an elite level for a catcher. Suzuki started 83 games last season, which, again, would allow Contreras to get even more time to recover next season between starts if the Cubs pull the trigger on Suzuki in the offseason.