After depleting their roster around last year’s trade deadline, the Chicago Cubs managed to put together an interesting team for the 2022 season.
It may not be enough to get them in the postseason, but who knows?
Maybe they will surprise a few of us.
They brought in pitchers Wade Miley, Drew Smyly, and Marcus Stroman, outfielders Seiya Suzuki and Clint Frazier, shortstop Andrelton Simmons, and relievers Chris Martin, Mychal Givens, and David Robertson.
They also brought in catcher Yan Gomes, which clouds Willson Contreras‘ future.
More than that, Gomes is insurance in case Contreras is traded or eventually leaves via free agency.
Contreras, who hit .237/.340/.438 with 21 home runs in 2021 and has been above-average offensively throughout his whole career, will hit free agency after the season, having already completed five years of service time.
He requested $10.25 million and the Cubs countered at $9 million when arbitration figures were exchanged on Tuesday.
This may very well go to a hearing, which isn’t pretty in the slightest.
He Is Focused On The Game
The catcher commented on his current situation.
“I’m not focused on getting an extension. I’m not focused on the arbitration case. I’m focused on winning. I’m focused on competing on the field with my teammates. I’m focused on being the best that I can be for them,” he told MLB.com’s Cubs reporter Jordan Bastian.
Willson Contreras, who will have an arb hearing in-season:
"I'm not focused on getting an extension. I'm not focused on the arbitration case. I'm focused on winning. I'm focused on competing on the field with my teammates. I'm focused on being the best that I can be for them."
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 23, 2022
A catcher like Contreras will surely generate a lot of interest in the trade market, and that has been the case: he has been the center of rumors for a while now.
But he is trying to focus on the season and producing the best possible numbers to help the Cubs win.
At the moment, he is expected to share catching duties with Gomes while also alternating with several players in the designated hitter spot.
It should be an interesting season for Contreras.
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