Cubs' Contreras aiming to start third straight All-Star Game
At some positions this season, depth could be an issue for the Cubs.
Catcher is not on the worry list.
The Phillies' J.T. Realmuto is widely regarded as the best catcher in the National League, and Willson Contreras is a very close second.
"I think Willson is one of the best catchers in the game," said new Cubs manager David Ross, a former catcher himself. "I love Willson in the mix, what he brings to the leadership side. Obviously, his bat is elite for a catcher. He's already been an all-star and he's won a World Series, so if he will stay on par with that I will be just fine."
Contreras has been the National League's starter in each of the last two All-Star Games, the first Cubs catcher to do that since Gabby Hartnett in 1936-37.
He is one of only three catchers in franchise history with multiple 20-home runs seasons (two), joining Hartnett (three) and Jody Davis (two).
Contreras also has one of the best throwing arms in the game and is undoubtedly a core player for the Cubs.
Health is the biggest concern, and Contreras has landed on the injured list two times in the last three seasons with hamstring issues. The 27-year-old catcher also was sidelined with a sore right foot in 2019.
If Contreras is limited to 105 games like he was last season, that's where the depth comes in.
After splitting the 2017-18 seasons between the Cubs and Class AAA Iowa, Victor Caratini established himself as a solid major league backup catcher last year, with potential to be a No. 1.
Like Contreras, Caratini had to deal with an injury last season. He was out April 12 to May 16 with a left-hamate fracture.
Healthy the rest of the year, the 26-year-old catcher hit .266/.348/.447 with 11 home runs and 34 RBI in 95 games. The highlight of Caratini's year came Aug. 29, when he hit 2 homers off Mets ace Jacob deGrom in the Cubs' 4-1 win.
Contreras and Caratini are as good a catching duo as you're going to find in baseball, and Josh Phegley was signed in case either goes back on the IL.
Signed to a minor league contract Jan. 20, Phegley is a seven-year veteran who spent the last five seasons with the Athletics.
In 106 games with Oakland in 2019, Phegley reached career highs with 12 home runs and 62 RBI while batting .239 over 106 games.
The 32-year-old catcher was drafted by the White Sox in 2009 and played parts of two seasons (2013-14) on the South Side.
In eight Cactus League games with the Cubs this spring, Phegley is batting .350 (7-for-20) with 2 homers and 5 RBI.
The Cubs are trying to build up their minor league system, but they have a promising catching prospect in Miguel Amaya.
Spending the entire 2019 season at high Class A Myrtle Beach at the age of 20, Amaya hit .235/.351/.402 with 11 homers and 57 RBI in 99 games.
The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder is a rising hitter, and he's already considered one of the best defensive catchers in minor-league baseball.