Cubs quietly expected to land an IFA signing that could mirror Salvador Perez’s rise

International free agency just opened last week, and the Chicago Cubs have been plenty busy already. This year, instead of spending big from their bonus pool to lock down one of the top young prospects, they've taken a more scattershot approach and spread the money around to the next tier of players to bolster the farm. After seeing the struggles of their previous high-profile names like Adan Sanchez and Cristian Hernandez, perhaps they hope to hit on at least someone from that group with more chances at success. In another change from their typical approach, there was also little known about their 2026 class until they officially put pen to paper.

The highlight of this group has been Yadier Muñoz, a sure-handed shortstop out of the Dominican Republic whom they signed for $1.2 million. They've also added fellow shortstops Jaims Martinez and Johan Geraldo, outfielder Yanfri Serrano, utility man Eduardo Gonzalez, and infielder Luis German, among others. Yet, for as much as this group reflects the new philosophy this year, the Cubs may be bucking that next year as they're also already connected to a promising player for the 2027 class.

Francys Romero reported that the Cubs were expected to ink a more substantial $1.5 million deal with Cuban catcher José Muñiz after next year's international signing period opens. That's a hefty commitment for a slightly later-arriving prospect at a typically underrated position, and for fair reason. With his massive frame and skills in the field, scouts are already comparing him to star Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Pérez.

Muñiz defected from Cuba back in October as his star was starting to rise on the country's U-15 national team. Before leaving, his showing in the World Cup Qualifiers earned him Most Valuable Player honors and ultimately helped the team through the round. Since his arrival in the Dominican Republic, he's been working at one of the top academies for young Cuban ballplayers under former Major Leaguer Alex Sánchez, which has given him more exposure to MLB scouts. In their eyes, so far, he's been viewed among the best in his class, which makes his potential deal all the more exciting for the Cubs.

It's always important to be cautious of such comparisons for players who are so far away from the majors — see "Baby A-Rod" Hernandez, for instance. However, there are plenty of reasons to love what the 6-foot-4 Muñiz has shown so far. He appears to be growing into more power with age to complement his already-established contact skills and arm. Like Pérez, he's also been hailed as a strong leader behind the dish. Considering Salvy has been a consistent, widely-respected player in MLB for years with a career .264/.301/.457 slash line and five Gold Gloves, that's quite the potential to dream on.

The Cubs could seriously use another quality catching prospect in the organization, too. For now, Carson Kelly is around for one more year, and Miguel Amaya won't be a free agent until 2030. Past them, however, the top "catching" prospect in their farm is Moises Ballesteros, who simply hasn't been trusted to be an acceptable backstop in the major leagues despite his bat. The only other notable name at the position in the team's top 30 prospects is A-ball catcher Owen Ayers at #23. He has been turning heads lately after earning Arizona Fall League Breakout Player of the Year honors, but they definitely still needed someone with Muñiz's upside to make the future brighter at the position.

Now, it's worth noting that the pending new CBA and potential lockout could affect the Cubs' agreement with Muñiz. While the focus has been on the argument over a salary cap or floor, the players and ownership could also reach an agreement that completely changes how the IFA system works. An international draft was surprisingly close to becoming a reality during the last labor fight after the league expressed a willingness to drop free agent draft pick compensation to make it happen. Moreover, it's hard to predict how a work stoppage could hinder Chicago and other teams' operations when it comes to international signings.

However, the likely outcome remains that the Cubs will still bring Muñiz into the fold around this time next year and, in turn, ensure their next class gets off to a very promising start.