Miguel Amaya hitting is way back into Chicago Cubs' catcher conversation

Two players who the Chicago Cubs need to truly evaluated over the course of the final two month of the regular season are Pete Crow-Armstrong and Miguel Amaya.

Given the contract status of the Cubs' core, there aren't many paths where the team could look to improve their offense this offseason. With Christopher Morel now a member of the Tampa Bay Rays, that does open the designated hitter spot but that could be occupied by Cody Bellinger if his injury-riddled season leads to him picking up his player option for the 2025 season.

If that happens, that leaves center field or catcher as the only two spots where the Cubs could look for an upgrade this winter.

What the Cubs will do at catcher has been a question since the team decided to let Willson Contreras walk in free agency after the 2022 season. While Contreras has emerged as the backbone of the Cardinals' lineup, the struggles of Miguel Amaya at the beginning of this season is large reason why the Cubs won't be making the postseason.

There has been an uptick in hope for Amaya in recent weeks. Since June 19, the day that the Cubs designated Yan Gomes for assignment, Amaya is slashing .273/.342/.394 with a 111 wRC+. Amaya, in that stretch, has shown the offensive progression that the Cubs needed to see at the beginning of the season.

Miguel Amaya hitting his way back into catcher conversation.

The Cubs made noticeable changes to Amaya's stance and swing, resulting in the success that the catcher has had in recent weeks. If Amaya continues that success to close out the season, he could certainly be viewed as the starting catcher heading into the 2025 season.

Though, given his struggles to open the season, the Cubs would be wise not fully count on Amaya as being the answer at catcher. It's a similar situation they were in with Adbert Alzolay. The Cubs valued Alzolay's success during the second half of the 2023 season to the extent that they were fully committed to him being the closer in 2024 and it backfired instantly. They can't afford to make that mistake with Amaya and the catching position.