Miguel Amaya's hot streak shouldn't change important offseason target for Cubs

There is danger in falling in love with sample sizes, and the Chicago Cubs learned that lesson last season when they used the two-month stretch from Adbert Alzolay to explain why they did not feel obliged to add a closer during the offseason.

The final few months of a season can be dangerous for a team like the Cubs. The Cubs have been a disappointment this season but their recent play could be the perfect opportunity for the front office to feel validated in their approach.

The fear is that, like last offseason, the front office will praise the team's turnaround during the second half of this season and use that as the basis for their roster construction entering the 2025 season.

A test of how much faith the front office puts into the team's second-half success this season will be what they decide to do at the catcher position.

After a failed attempt to acquire Logan O'Hoppe from the Los Angeles Angels at the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline, the takeaway was that the Cubs were ready to target a starting catcher this offseason with the idea being that Miguel Amaya is best served as a backup.

Amaya, however, is making a case to still be the answer for the Cubs at catcher. Since July 7, after Craig Counsell sat Amaya in order to refine his offensive approach, Amaya is slashing .326/.370/.558 through 95 plate appearances with a 159 wRC+.

Miguel Amaya's hot streak shouldn't deter Cubs' offseason plans.

Amaya has had the offensive upswing that the Cubs were hoping to see at the start of the season. The fact that it hasn't happened until now is a reason why the Cubs are barely clinging onto contention for a Wild Card spot in the National League.

While nearly 100 plate appearances adds legitimacy to sample size, Amaya's hot stretch over the course of the past two months shouldn't lead to the front office completely abandoning their desire to add a catcher this offseason. The fact remains that Amaya, as a defensive catcher, has shown consistent regression this season. Amaya's caught stealing above average, framing, and pop time are all among the lost percentiles of catchers this season.

If anything, Amaya's offensive resurgence had given him some candidacy to be a part of the designated hitter rotation next offseason but in terms of catcher, the Cubs should still look for an upgrade at the position.