Chicago Cubs: Backup catcher options on the free agent market

Without Victor Caratini, the Cubs will need to add depth behind the dish.

As it stands right now the Chicago Cubs still have Willson Contreras as their number one catcher with Miguel Amaya listed as their second on the MLB.com depth chart. Amaya, 21, is one of the team’s top prospects but he is still working on developing in the minors and Jed Hoyer said this week he is not a candidate to start the year with the big league club. Knowing as much, his making the big league roster out of camp seems next-to-impossible and frankly not a great idea for him.

It is best that the Cubs go out and bring in a veteran backup catcher because MLB-ready options within the organization are just not there yet. Closest is P.J. Higgins who played in both Tennessee and Iowa in 2019 but has not played in the majors yet at age 27. Contreras is the only catcher on the roster with MLB experience right now.

Adding a veteran backup will not only help the team on the field, but can also allow them to have a potential trade asset later in the season when they might feel bringing up Amaya is necessary. There are a number of catchers available on the free agent market not named J.T. Realmuto or Yadier Molina (who seems to still want a solid paycheck). Here are some names.