Chicago Cubs: Breaking down the best contracts on the team

There is much fear surrounding money and the Chicago Cubs. While the team currently does hold some egregious contracts, there are a few which stand out as better than the rest and best of the best.

“Chicago Cubs sign outfielder Jason Heyward to eight-year, $184M deal”.

On December 8, 2015, the above headline rang out across Sports Illustrated as Chicago dove straight into the deep end of the free-agent lagoon in search of their next superstar. While Jason Heyward has not necessarily lived up to hype from a production standpoint, he has been the leader of some pivotal moments, ones which you cannot put a value on, leading many to believe in the contract.

It was the second time in as many years the Cubs took a chance with a massive contract by going all-in on who they wanted Heyward to be. The winter before, starting pitcher and longtime club ace Jon Lester signed a six-year, $135 million contract. Both contracts, in their ways, have worked out. Currently, the Cubs have some intriguing contracts, and it’s time to pick the best of the best.

Chicago Cubs: Javier Baez – one year, $10 million

The first mention of the best contracts goes to the one and only Javier Baez. Báez, who is in the middle of his arbitration period with the club, signed a one-year, $10 million deal in the second stage of arbitration. He has one year of arbitration remaining before becoming a free agent in 2022.

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Báez has quickly risen through the ranks for not only the Cubs but throughout baseball as one of the most electrically entertaining players to follow and watch. The 27-year-old has been exceptional over the past two seasons, posting a combined 9.7 WAR along the way.

He has quickly become one of the best defensive infielders in the game as well, and had a monster defensive season in 2019, posting a 26 DRS and 9.5 UZR/150, respectively, over 1,116 2/3 innings. Unbelievably, Báez did not win a Gold Glove, as he was beaten out by Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed. I’m still bitter about it, but I digress.

Due to the production over the past couple of seasons, as well as the hopefully continued progression for Báez’s career arc, Báez right now remains the best contract on the team. If the Cubs can manage to figure a way to extend Javy, well, it will only become that much sweeter.

Chicago Cubs: Victor Caratini – one year, $592,000

This next choice may seem like a strange one, but it is one that flies under the radar of making sense. Victor Caratini became a catalyst for the Cubs in 2019, making the most of his time backing up Willson Contreras. He appeared in a career-high 95 games, leading him to post new career-highs in every offensive category.

Last season, in 279 plate appearances, Caratini slashed a much improved .266/.348/.447 with 11 home runs and 34 RBI. His strikeout rate stagnated from the year before, at 21.1 percent, while his walk rate grew from six percent to 10.4 percent, respectively.

Caratini was overall an above-average offensive player. He finished with a 108 wRC+, which is good for a back-up catcher, especially one who labored through his first two big-league seasons. Bouncing back in a significant way helped his case for the club, and his durability played an essential factor.

The Cubs struggled mightily outside of Caratini and Contreras last season, as Jonathan Lucroy hit .189, Taylor Davis hit .167, and Martin Maldonado went 0-11 in four games. Imperatively, Caratini took his back-up reigns and ran with it to be a strong contributor.

Caratini enters into his first year of arbitration next season and should remain the back-up for the time being at least. Right now, for above-average production from the back-up catching role, it is swell.