Cubs' plan for Moises Ballesteros may hint at key free agent departure this offseason

Moises Ballesteros made his first start at catcher for the Chicago Cubs this season on Monday night against the San Diego Padres, and it sounds like the Cubs are preparing for Ballesteros to have increased catching duties moving forward this season.

The Athletic's Patrick Mooney (subscription required) reports that the Cubs are accelerating Ballesteros' catching program. A logical conclusion would be that Ballesteros may be the catcher paired with Matthew Boyd moving forward. Boyd has a deserved reputation for his ability to keep base runners at bay, and his command would seemingly go well with a rookie learning the catching ropes at the major-league level.

Mooney stresses that Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya are still viewed as the co-starters at catcher for the Cubs. Kelly is off to another strong offensive start in his second year with the Cubs, entering Tuesday night with a slash line of .314/.422/.457 with a wRC+ of 155. Amaya's hot start has cooled, but he still has a wRC+ of 112 through his first 55 plate appearances this season.

Beyond that, the Cubs view both Kelly and Amaya as above-average catchers in terms of handling the pitching staff and defensive metrics. Ballesteros has always been a prospect led by his bat, and isn't quite of the run-prevention mold the Cubs often look for their catchers to have.

That doesn't mean Ballesteros can't get there; it just highlights that for now, his primary contribution to the Cubs will be with his bat.

The underyling reason of importance for Moises Ballesteros' development

That being said, the reality facing the Cubs is that Kelly will be a free agent next offseason. Considering how thin the free-agent market typically is for catchers, if Kelly maintains his production (or regresses to where he ended the 2025 season), he's going to be a hot commodity on the market.

The Cubs may have an interest in retaining Kelly beyond this season, but it seems there will be a clear path toward his price exceeding their comfort zone. Amaya, meanwhile, is under control through the 2029 season.

That is where Ballesteros' development as a catcher becomes important for the Cubs. If he truly becomes someone that Craig Counsell feels comfortable having behind the plate regularly, then that likely makes the Cubs comfortable in letting Kelly walk via free agency next winter.

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