The Chicago Cubs are in a position where they are trying to build their team up. They are spending some money this off-season which is nice but they are going to lose one of the faces of their franchise at the same time.
One of the big rumors surrounding Contreras isn’t one that will make Cubs fans very happy. In fact, it would probably be something that infuriates most Cubs fans. That is the rumor that the St. Louis Cardinals are the favorite to land him in free agency.
Seeing him go to the biggest rival that the Cubs have to replace their former All-Star catcher who finally retired would be tough.
From a baseball point of view, he would be the perfect fit for them but that isn’t what the Cubs want to see for the Cardinals. The Cubs might not have what it takes to beat the top teams in the NL but the Cardinals are the team standing in their way of a division title.
The Chicago Cubs are likely going to lose Willson Contreras in free agency.
Well, a new team has come up as a potential favorite alongside the Cardinals when it comes to Contreras. That team is the defending World Series champion Houston Astros.
Houston has a great defensive catcher in Martin Maldonado but they would like to add one that can hit much better than he can which is not a bad idea at all. Contreras can also be a designated hitter from time to time as well.
There were rumors last trade deadline that the Cubs and Astros were talking about Contreras but they ended up going with Christian Vasquez from the Boston Red Sox instead. Well, Vasquez is unlikely to return there so they are looking for more help.
Although it would be hard for the Cubs to see him play for a different MLB team, it would be better for them to see him in an Astros jersey than a Cardinals jersey.
It is obvious that the Cubs handled the whole Contreras situation so wrong and now they are going to see him leave for nothing. Leaving the National League Central would make it a much easier thing to accept when it does finally happen.