Do the Chicago Cubs really not want to sign a backup catcher?

The offseason has come and gone for the Chicago Cubs. One of the few places that many felt that they needed help outside of the bullpen? A backup catcher. But the Cubs have watched all potential free agents exit the market. Why?

No one knows, is the short of it. The Chicago Cubs have watched almost every available backup catcher sign elsewhere. We started tracking some of these potential players after the season ended for the Cubs. And we’ve continued to watch them drop off the free agent market all winter. Now comes the news that Matt Wieters has signed a minor-league deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, with an invitation to camp. If he doesn’t make the 25-man roster, he can opt-out on March 22nd.

I realize Wieters is a far cry from the four-time All-Star he once was. But the Cards gave him a chance to earn the backup job with a minor-league deal. Why would the Cubs not consider the same thing? In the past, the Cubs have had veterans fill that backup role. David Ross is the most recent. But now they turn to a less-experienced player in the current backup role.

Why do the Cubs feel they don’t need to sign a catcher, any catcher, even to a minor-league deal with an invitation to camp? Also, someone to help push the current guys to step up their game. Fear of losing your job can have a significant effect on your level of production. Let’s look at what the Cubs have, and see if we can find any reason not to pursue a backup.