Addition Of Maldonado Allows Theo Epstein To Put Victor Caratini On His Pile Of Trade Chips

Have the Cubs rediscovered the value of their three-catcher formation? Or is the trade for Martin Maldonado a precursor to a more significant trade before the July 31 deadline?

It’s easy to forget now but early in Theo Epstein’s tenure the 25-man roster often included three catchers. That was the case with Welington Castillo, Miguel Montero and David Ross early in the 2015 season and again with Ross, Montero and Willson Contreras after Conteras’ debut in 2016.

Joe Maddon needed all three of those catchers to win Game 7 in Cleveland in 10 innings. 

Given the ability of Conteras and Victor Caratini to play multiple positions, it’s possible the defensively gifted Maldonado could figure into a three-catcher mix after Contreras is again healthy. The Monday night trade with the Royals — for left-handed pitcher Mike Montgomery, who famously got the last out in the World Series clincher — was executed as Contreras was going onto the injured list with a strain in the arch of his right foot.

For the record, the Cubs don’t expect Conteras to be sidelined long. They certainly hope not, as the All-Star catcher is third among their position players with a 2.5 rWAR. 

Caratini is a quality backup. The 25-year-old switch hitter is hitting .289 with an .854 OPS across 111 plate appearances while helping Yu Darvish hold opponents to a .185 average in his last eight starts. Maddon has hit him fifth, immediately behind Anthony Rizzo, in three starts since the All-Star break.

Here’s where it gets interesting.

Maldonado was the Astros’ primary catcher last October. His acquisition allows Theo Epstein to consider including Caratini in a deal to acquire a proven left-hander for the bullpen or a piece for the lineup when the mid-season dominoes start falling fast.

Epstein, the Cubs’ president of baseball operation, is a shrewd deal-maker. He said before Monday’s game at Wrigley Field that he doesn’t want to deal from a thin inventory of advanced minor-league prospects to help the big-league club. He’s done that in the past, and the current supply raises concerns about what happens in a couple years, when there’s not much left of the 2016 core. 

His other option, of course, is one he has consistently avoided — dealing from the cast of young regulars who have played big roles over the last four seasons. Don’t be surprised if this is the month that he says some difficult farewells.

Center fielder Albert Almora, left fielder Kyle Schwarber, infielder Addison Russell, third baseman-utility man David Bote and the versatile Ian Happ — who has spent all of 2019 at Triple-A — figure to be discussed in deals before the deadline. Caratini could be the carrot on the top for a team looking for a long-term catcher. 

The Cubs haven’t had a traditional leadoff man since Dexter Fowler in 2016, and have seemingly been infatuated with the Royals’ Whit Merrifield. But Kansas City places a high value on Merrifield, which has Epstein searching elsewhere.

Second base has been a revolving door since Javier Baez moved to shortstop when Russell was on administrative leave preceding his 40-game suspension for domestic violence. It’s the easiest fit so what about a deal with the Blue Jays for the bespectacled Eric Sogard (.370 on-base percentage, 10 home runs and an .863 OPS)?

Only Epstein and his lieutenants know who is at the top of the Cubs’ wish list. It’s likely to be somebody who creates more buzz than a 33-year-old in the midst of a career year but incremental improvement is better than nothing. 

Or maybe Maldonado’s addition means nothing at all. After all, 1908 is still the last time the Cubs won the World Series without three catchers on their roster.

Source: Forbes.com

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