*Photo from the San Francisco Chronicle*
With rampant trade rumors having surrounded starting catcher Willson Contreras recently, this move does not quiet them. The Chicago Cubs and C Yan Gomes have agreed to a two year, $13 million deal, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The Cubs have confirmed the contract.
The second year is the big deal here, because Gomes is a veteran and valuable insurance policy for the Cubs if they choose to move Contreras, who would undoubtedly get them a good haul of prospects in return. There is a team option for the 2024 season that is worth $6 million, and Gomes can earn an extra $1 million in bonuses based on games started.
Spending last season with the Washington Nationals and Oakland Athletics, Gomes combined to hit for a .252 batting average and a .723 OPS, hitting 14 home runs and driving in 52 runs, drawing 19 walks in 103 games last season, 63 for the Nationals, and the other 40 for the A's, who became the 4th team Gomes has played for.
Playing with 4 teams in 10 big league seasons, Gomes has a career .247 batting average and .720 OPS, slugging .421 and hitting 117 home runs, driving in 416 while drawing 185 walks, playing in 882 games across his 10 seasons. In 22 career playoff games, Gomes has a .255 batting average, hitting no home runs and driving in 4 in 56 plate appearances.
Gomes, who made the all star game with the Cleveland Indians in 2018, brings good defensive value to the Cubs, despite a sometime sluggish bat. Gomes has thrown out 33 percent of potential base stealers in his 10 year career, and has also been consistently above average in pitch framing. He ranks 11th best among qualified catchers with 41 DRS since 2012.
For now, Contreras is still a member of the Cubs, so it can be assumed that he and Gomes will form a dynamic 1-2 punch behind the plate on the North Side of Chicago. Should the DH become universal in baseball, Gomes could draw starts there, and he also has first base experience, which can help as the Cubs try and figure out a replacement for Anthony Rizzo.
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