Cubs Catcher Has To 'Earn Playing Time'

The Chicago Cubs decided to bring their veteran catcher Yan Gomes back for the 2024 season by exercising the club option in his contract that was signed back in December 2021.

For $6 million, it was a no-brainer decision.

Gomes emerged as a leader in the clubhouse and did wonders working with the pitching staff. It also helped that he put together his best season in a couple years when he slashed .267/.315/.408 with 10 home runs, 63 RBI, and an OPS+ of 93.

Having the veteran who's entering his 13th season in the bigs around this team should be invaluable as many young prospects are set to see the field for the Cubs this year.

But, with Gomes coming back, that also blocked the potential that they'd be turning the catching reins over to Miguel Amaya, someone who has been dubbed their catcher of the future.

Amaya has been playing within Chicago's organization since 2016 after signing as an international free agent.

The 25-year-old just made his Major League debut last season, appearing in 51 games with 41 of them coming behind the plate and 33 of those being starts.

He had been a rising star within their farm system until the minor league season was canceled in 2020 and he underwent Tommy John surgery. Since then, the shine has come off him a little bit.

Still, he fits the profile of potentially being their future everyday catcher.

New manager Craig Counsell isn't just going to give that to him, though.

"Miguel's job is to earn playing time. That's kind of what I've told him. And I think that ability is there. We're going to have to figure that out," the skipper told Patrick Mooney of The Athletic.

The question remains if Amaya can do that.

On offense he slashed .214/.329/.359 with 28 total hits, five homers, 18 RBI, and 40 strikeouts during his limited action.

On defense he allowed 31 stolen bases while only catching three runners, recorded four errors and two past balls in even more limited action.

That's why Counsell hasn't just penciled him in for playing time.

The youngster has to prove that he deserves to be on the field ahead of the veteran Gomes who is solid on both ends.

"For Miguel, the learning curve for catchers is always incredibly steep. That's why we often see catchers develop a little later. Because the amount of information we ask them to process is steep. But Miguel is physically talented. His experience last year is huge to slow down all that information that gets piled on him," Counsell said.

Hopefully this is the year that everything clicks for Amaya.