First.. Sara, you OK?
The reason I ask is that there’s a rumor, posted by Ken Rosenthal at The Athletic, that the Angels are interested in trading for Willson Contreras:
Angels manager Joe Maddon was a strong advocate for Willson Contreras during their time together with the Cubs, so perhaps it’s no surprise the Angels are showing interest in trading for the catcher, according to major-league sources.
No deal appears close, but Contreras, 28, would be an excellent fit for the Angels, whose top returning catcher, Max Stassi, might miss the start of the season while recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip.
Rosenthal goes on to note that several members of Joe Maddon’s coaching staff are also familiar with Willson, and what the Cubs might ask for in return.
Here’s what I have to say about this: First, if this happens — and I am deeply skeptical this is more than just a “checking in” — the return would have to be better than the Cubs received for Yu Darvish. Major-league ready players would have to come back. Rosenthal didn’t mention the Angels top outfield prospect Jo Adell, but I’d think Jed Hoyer would at least inquire about Adell.
BCB’s Tim Huwe will have some thoughts on who he’d like to see the Cubs get in a possible Contreras deal coming up at 1:30 p.m. CT.
Second, Contreras is not in a similar situation to Darvish. He’s 28 (turns 29 in May), under team control for two more seasons and not likely to be tremendously expensive in 2021 — maybe somewhere around $6-$7 million, per MLB Trade Rumors’ arbitration estimates.
Lastly, the Cubs already need to find a catcher because they included Victor Caratini in the Darvish deal and Hoyer has stated Miguel Amaya won’t start 2021 in the major leagues. Trading Willson would mean they’d need two catchers.
So if this trade happens — and again, I don’t think it will — that would signal a full rebuild is under way.
“As always, we await developments.”