Two catcher options via trade for Cubs |
The Angels' making the first major free agent signing that wasn't a returning player, Travis d'Arnaud, has thrown a bit of a wrench into how their roster will be constructed next season. With d'Arnaud now in the mix, the Angels have three catchers on their roster, and two of them are considered backups to Logan O'Hoppe, who is one of the better catchers in baseball.
Even with d'Arnaud signing a two-year contract for roughly 15 million dollars, he is still not considered the everyday catcher, given his age and the overall value of what O'Hoppe brings to the table. Knowing that O'Hoppe and d'Arnaud are expected to be the top two catchers on their roster, it made Matt Thaiss expendable, and according to reports, it does look like the Angels plan to DFA him with hopes of finding a trade partner sooner rather than later. If that is the case, the Cubs should enter the conversation as he is exactly what they need to fill the backup role. Considered the third catcher on the Angels roster, Thaiss has more than proven to be valuable enough to be a backup option and has also had plenty of starting experience since breaking into the league. At 29 years old, Thaiss is a standard backup catcher who fills the role most teams need him to fill. He doesn't hit well enough to be a utility guy or the No. 1 option, and he plays average defense at best. Going a bit further on his hitting, compared to other backup catchers in the league, Thaiss actually hits below average, as he has combined to hit just .211 across the past three seasons. For a team that wants more thump in their lineup, that wouldn't fit into their plans, but at a very cost-effective option for a backup role, it would be foolish not to check in with the Angels and gauge their thoughts on the situation. Thaiss is not an impact player by any means, and if he were to be counted on as your top catching option, the Cubs would be in serious trouble behind the dish. However, with Miguel Amaya needing a backup, preferably a veteran backup, it makes sense to go after Thaiss, especially when guys like Danny Jansen and Carson Kelly would cost way more on the open market than Thaiss would cost in a trade. If you had to pick either Thaiss, Jansen, or Kelly, Thaiss would be at the bottom of your list production-wise, but it's the overall cost that the Cubs love as they continue to operate under a silent plan that no one wants to discuss. As much as a potential deal makes sense for the Cubs, there are some things to consider, especially if Thaiss is struggling and you have a guy like Moises Ballesteros, who is primed to break out in 2025. In a normal situation, Thaiss would be optioned to the minors to give a younger guy a chance, but with him out of Minor League options, the Cubs would be forced to keep him on the roster or release him before calling anyone up.
If that is the case, the Cubs will most likely roll with Amaya and Ballesteros, as there is nothing to gain by keeping down a prospect who continues to mash. Let's say the Angels ultimately hang onto Thaiss for whatever reason and name d'Arnaud their starting catcher. That would ultimately put O'Hoppe on the block, and he would instantly become a Cubs target.
The Cubs have been in on O'Hoppe before and were even conversing with the Angels last season about what it would take to get a deal done. Coming off a season where he hit .244 with 20 homers and 56 RBIs, you have to wonder how much more offense is in that bat, as he would've been in the top five in homers on last season's team.
Not only would O'Hoppe be an instant offensive upgrade for the Cubs at the catcher position, but he is also an above-average defensive catcher with a strong and accurate arm. That alone is something they were missing last season, as Chicago ranked 28th out of 30 teams when it came to throwing out runners.
Unlike Thaiss, the cost for O'Hoppe would be much higher as he is considered a core player for the Angels current roster. In any instance, the Angels will be open for business one way or another at a position of need for the Cubs, and Chicago needs to jump on the chance as quickly as they can before the market starts to take shape.
