Jed Hoyer and the Chicago Cubs front office have a lot of work ahead of them this coming MLB offseason.
He has made it very clear that he wants his team to return to the World Series. To achieve this, the Cubs will need to strengthen several positions on the roster.
One of these positions where there is a need could well be that of catcher.
There’s a chance the solution to these problems already exists within the organization. Many believe Triple-A catcher Moises Ballesteros will be the team’s long-term solution behind the plate, but they could also consider looking for a catcher on the free agency market.
In this sense, Jake Misener from Cubbies Toddler Bed has suggested three potential names to keep an eye on in MLB free agency.
He believes names like Danny Jansen, Carson Kelly and Elias Diaz could make sense for Chicago.
Jansen was a name mentioned as a possible trade target before the deadline this year. He has played in 67 games this season, posting a batting average of .227/.315/.398 to go along with eight home runs and 21 RBIs. While he’s not a bad player, he wouldn’t bring the kind of power the Cubs would likely prefer.
Kelly has played in 66 games this season, hitting eight home runs and 33 RBIs. He’s hit .250/.330/.408 and would be a better hitter, but still not the kind of impact Chicago would want.
Diaz might make the most sense as a free agent if the Cubs want to play aggressively. He was more productive at bat than the other two names on this list, hitting .270/.317/.382, along with five home runs and 34 RBIs.
All three of these players could make sense. The real question would be, would any of them actually make an impact?
In the final stretch of the 2024 season, Chicago should call up Ballesteros and see what they have in him. He has shown an excellent and powerful swing in the minor leagues.
If he can step up and make an impact late in the year, Hoyer wouldn’t have to spend money on free agents or trade for a catcher.
Expect the Cubs to have a very active and interesting offseason. They have a lot of young talent, including Ballesteros.
A catcher may be needed, but the three names suggested don’t exactly seem like the kind of talent that could take Chicago to the next level.
