Cubs non-tender roster placeholder, putting pressure on oft-injured catcher

The Chicago Cubs have non-tendered veteran catcher Reese McGuire. Of the four decisions the Cubs had to make on Friday, non-tendering McGuire was one of the easier calls. With Miguel Amaya missing a majority of the 2025 season due to a pair of injuries, McGuire became a folk hero during his only season with the Cubs.

McGuire turned into a hidden gem during his time with the Cubs, slashing .226/.245/.444 with 9 home runs. As was the case with Carson Kelly, McGuire's offensive production was a bonus for the Cubs and was one of the reasons why the team wasn't in a rush to bring Amaya back to the Major League level.

Given Amaya's injury history, there was an argument to be made that it wouldn't have been the worst thing for the Cubs to tender McGuire a contract. Carrying three catchers on a Major League roster isn't common practice, and McGuire has no minor-league options remaining. That likely was the biggest thing working against him, especially when Moises Ballesteros, a catcher by reputation, is expected to have a larger role in 2026.

Reese McGuire's non-tender is a reminder that the Cubs still may not have a long-term catcher.

As was the plan at the start of last season, the Cubs seem to be entering 2026 with the expectation of their catching tandem being Kelly and Amaya.

2026 figures to be an important season for Amaya, who needs to prove that he is capable of staying healthy for the duration of a regular season. Amaya did have some encouraging offensive results in 2025, posting a wRC+ of 124 through 103 plate appearances, but was limited to 28 games.

A hidden goal for the Cubs by the end of 2026 will be identifying whether or not they have their long-term catcher in their organization. Kelly is among the chorus of Cubs players expected to hit free agency after 2026, and Amaya's lack of availability makes him a question mark as well. The Cubs haven't given up on the idea of Ballesteros as a catcher, but it feels like he is best served as a designated hitter.