Chicago Cubs lack a clear succession plan if they trade Willson Contreras

Chicago Cubs have limited options if they choose to go the free agency route

MLB Trade Rumors shows 14 catchers in this winter’s free agent class. At first glance, you’d think that means the Cubs would have a ton of options when it comes to adding a new face behind the plate.

But you’d be very, very wrong.

Alex Avila announced his retirement this weekend, so cross him off the list. Two of the names mentioned are current Cubs – Robinson Chirinos and Austin Romine. Chirinos turns 38 next June so, despite his solid numbers, you have to have questions about him staying healthy and productive again in 2022. And, simply put, Austin Romine is not a viable option if you want to be even remotely competitive, as a team.

After bouncing back in a big way, Buster Posey and the Giants will surely continue their relationship. Kurt Suzuki and Jeff Mathis will both be nearing 40 years old and the three youngest catchers on the list: Tucker Barnhart, Christian Vasquez and Mike Zunino all have team options that could keep them with their respective clubs through next year.

Chicago could go with a Yan Gomes, Sandy Leon or Manny Pina – but, again, you’re talking about a dramatic drop off from what you’ve gotten from Contreras in recent years. Leon is dead weight offensively, but both Gomes and Pina, at least on paper, could be a fit. But, again, we just took a list of 14 possibilities and narrowed it down to just two viable options – and Chicago won’t be the only team inquiring, either.

Chicago Cubs: Miguel Amaya has seemingly stalled in the minors

One of the unseen consequences from last year’s pandemic was the cancellation of the entire Minor League Baseball Season. That means a lost year of development for prospects everywhere, although some were included in team’s training site workouts late in the summer.

Among those who missed out was Cubs catching prospect Miguel Amaya. He put together a monster showing in winter ball, though, slashing .261/.553/.609 in 10 games – prompting hope he could be ready to make a big jump here in 2021. Instead, he appeared in only 23 games with Double-A Tennessee before losing the rest of the year due to injury.

Amaya is still the team’s fourth-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. But after the last two years, some of the luster seems to have faded. Still just 22 years of age, he’s still young – but the Cubs can’t just hand him the catching job in Chicago to open 2022. He still probably needs another year or more of development in the higher levels of the minors, which leaves that aforementioned gap in the internal line of succession.

All this to say: if the Cubs trade Contreras this winter, they might need to make sure they get a catcher in return because there are major concerns with both the internal and external options available. The safer bet is obvious, though: extend him and make this a non-issue.