Chicago Cubs: Miguel Amaya dominating in Arizona Fall League

Chicago Cubs: If the team moves off a catcher, Amaya becomes key

Would I prefer the Chicago Cubs were playing in the postseason? Of course. But I have to say, I’m more excited for the months to come than I’ve been for any offseason in recent memory. We’re going to see substantive change on the big league roster for the first time in years.

If nothing else, the 2019 campaign showed there are fundamental flaws in regards to how this team is constructed. The Cubs trended in the wrong direction in countless statistics – namely on defense and the base paths. Two spots on the diamond – second base and center field – were major drags on the team and the starting rotation showed its age in big ways.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups
• Cubs: P.J. Higgins deserves to be in the lineup on a daily basis

The good news? Epstein seems to know the task at hand – and he has a roster loaded with quality pieces, either to build around or turn into valuable trade chips. I recently broke down the three big-name guys the Cubs could move off in hopes of shoring up the roster, as a whole. Of course, one of those players is Willson Contreras.

If Chicago decided to roll with Victor Caratini as their starting catcher and complimented him with one of the many veteran backstops set to hit free agency this winter, Amaya becomes even more critical to the team’s long-term plans.

I’m not saying he’d be at Wrigley Field in 2020 because, barring something tremendous, that’s not happening.

But for a few years, we’ve looked at Contreras as the team’s long-term answer behind the plate, which has allowed us to be somewhat complacent when it comes to Amaya taking that next step in his game.

Without Contreras, though, that safety net is gone – and the Cubs will need Miguel Amaya to become the catcher we’ve all long-expected him to turn into. The only question is whether or not he’ll finally make the jump to that next level.