Cubs finally show sense of urgency, sign Tomás Nido to address catching need

The Chicago Cubs are making a move to upgrade their catching position after the early-season struggles of Miguel Amaya and Yan Gomes.

Prior to the Cubs' game against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday afternoon, the team designated Gomes for assignment to make way for the signing of former New York Mets' catcher Tomás Nido.

Given Gomes' and Amaya's defensive and offensive struggles, the Cubs' catching situation had to be addressed with a sense of urgency. Waiting until the Trade Deadline would not have been ideal, considering the time needed for the new catcher to learn the pitching staff.

In signing Nido, the Cubs are getting a defensive-first catcher. With the Mets this season, Nido was rated as an above-average defensive catcher in terms of blocks above average and caught stealing above average. Each of those are areas that. have cost the Cubs' games during the first two and a half months of this season.

It's not flashy but the Cubs' signing of Tomás Nido was much-needed.

Even from an offensive perspective, Nido would have an improvement from the production that the Cubs have gotten out of the catcher position this season. In 90 plate appearances with the Mets this season, Nido slashed .229/.261/.361 with a wRC+ of 79. While that is nothing to write home about, it is significantly better than the 50 wRC+ of Amaya this season and the 17 wRC+ that Gomes was carrying this season.

For as much as Jed Hoyer wants to remain loyal to the production that the Cubs had in 2023, this is a concession that external changes were needed. Gomes was a valuable member of the Cubs' 2023 team and in the clubhouse but age remains undefeated.