Travis d'Arnaud's contract decision gives Chicago Cubs clear answer for biggest need

Among the moves that the Chicago Cubs are expected to make this offseason, adding a catcher to pair with Miguel Amaya remains at the top of their to-do list.

While Miguel Amaya's hot stretch during July and August confirmed that he is capable of being a catcher at the Major League level, his struggles to open the season as well as in September would confirm that it wouldn't be the best plan for him to enter the 2025 season as the Cubs' primary catcher.

Adding a catcher was among the items mentioned by Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney in their offseason primer for The Athletic (Subscription Required). In mentioning that need, Mooney and Sharma suggested that the move may not be to add an unquestioned starting catcher but a veteran that can, at the very least, split time with Amaya.

The perfect candidate to fill that need may have fallen into the Cubs' laps. The Atlanta Braves announced on Monday that they have declined the $8MM club option for veteran catcher Travis d'Arnaud in 2025.

Travis d'Arnaud figures to be an ideal target for the Cubs this offseason.

d'Arnauld's 2024 season with the Braves proves that at 35, he still is a valuable backstop at the Major League level. In 341 plate appearances with the Braves last season, d'Arnaud slashed .238/.302/.436/103wRC+ with 16 home runs. Given that success, there is some surprise that the Braves simply declined the club option for d'Arnaud. Even if the purpose was to clear $8MM, he certainly would have an appealing target for teams in need of a catcher.

The Cubs are one of those teams. d"Arnauld immediately becomes one of the top free-agent catchers available this offseason. Given the connection to Dansby Swanson, as the two were teammates with the Braves, Swanson likely would be involved in a potential recruitment of the veteran catcher.