Chicago Cubs: Three players who could be moved in a blockbuster deal

Chicago Cubs: Contreras would no doubt attract a lengthy list of clubs

I’ve already talked at length on Contreras’ potential to be the likeliest Cub to be wearing a different uniform come Spring Training. It’s not hard to envision given his tremendous value – especially at the plate.

He’s undoubtedly one of the more premier offensive backstops in the game today. Despite a hamstring injury for the second consecutive season, Contreras turned in a career-best 127 wRC+ in 105 games.

The two-time All-Star is heading into his age-27 campaign with a lot of seemingly untapped potential. In 2018, we saw him put together a stretch where he could’ve legitimately put himself in the lower-ballot MVP discussion before suffering an injury. In the first half of 2019, Contreras compiled a .937 OPS – picking up where he left off late last year.

But more than anything Contreras himself is responsible for, it’s the exploits of his teammate, Victor Caratini, that makes me think he could be on the move this winter. The backstop turned in a career year, filling in admirably for Contreras and putting up the best offensive numbers of his career.

In an ideal world, the Cubs wouldn’t have to even entertain the idea of trading the team’s best offensive catchers in recent memory. But given the team’s needs on the pitching staff and at several other positions, trading from a position of strength and supplementing Contreras with one of the many veteran backstops on the market this winter, it might be their best move.