The Chicago Cubs entered the 2024 season banking on Miguel Amaya and Yan Gomes as their catching tandem. Now two-plus months into the season, it's become evident that the position is a black hole offensively.
After a solid 2023 campaign from Gomes, his production has taken a turn for the worse this season. At 36 years old, his career might be winding down.
Amaya hasn't capitalized on his opportunities to date. The Cubs' offense needs supplementary production, but he hasn't provided much at the dish.
While defense is crucial behind the plate, it can only mask offensive inefficacies for so long. The Cubs need an external addition to the position. As MLB clubs begin to assess their seasons entering June, the Toronto Blue Jays appear to be a great trade partner for the Cubs.
The Cubs' decision to move on from Willson Contreras can be contested, but what can't is how badly the Cubs miss his bat from the catching position. To their credit, the team's decision to prioritize defense has proven dividends for its pitching development.
Unfortunately, the rest of the Cubs' lineup hasn't been able to mask the offensive inferences at the catcher position. Changes are needed, and Danny Jansen offers a promising solution.
Catching Up
Danny Jansen is enjoying a solid season on both sides of the ball. If the Blue Jays are open for business, the 29-year-old should be a hot commodity at the 2024 MLB trade deadline. Toronto already has a younger option in Alejandro Kirk behind the plate.
If the Blue Jays are truly out on 2024, it would behoove them to field offers for Jansen. And the Cubs should be one of the teams calling if they haven't already.
The North Siders have plenty of holes right now. A true closer is one of them, making Jordan Romano another intriguing option for the team to explore.
It's hard to find another team that has so many of the solutions to Chicago's problems. If the Cubs are buyers at the trade deadline, it'll be surprising if a deal between the two sides doesn't come to fruition.
