Chicago Cubs Make Surprising Move with Tucker Barnhart – What’s Next?

Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs have made an official announcement regarding their catcher, Tucker Barnhart. According to a report from Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, Barnhart has been designated for assignment. In a corresponding move, infielder Miles Mastrobuoni has been called up to fill the roster spot.

Barnhart, who is 32 years old, was signed during the offseason to a two-year contract worth $6.5 million. At the time, this move made a lot of sense for the Cubs, especially considering the uncertainty they faced in the catcher position. Willson Contreras had been the mainstay catcher for many years but became a free agent after the 2022 season and signed with the Cardinals.

While the Cubs still had Yan Gomes, he was coming off a disappointing season and entering his age-35 season. Miguel Amaya was a promising prospect on the 40-man roster, but his development had been hampered by the pandemic and Tommy John surgery, and he had not yet reached Triple-A by the end of 2022.

Acquiring another catcher to bolster their depth was a logical move, and Barnhart was a sensible choice due to his experience as a veteran player. Barnhart made his debut in 2014 and played for the Cincinnati Reds through 2021 before spending one season with the Detroit Tigers. During this time, he posted a batting line of .245/.320/.360 with a wRC+ of 80, indicating that he was 20% below the league average in terms of offensive production.

However, it’s worth noting that catchers often have lower offensive statistics compared to other positions. He compensated for this with his solid defense, accumulating 12 Defensive Runs Saved and winning two Gold Gloves. In Statcast’s catcher blocking leaderboard, Barnhart was ranked as the best backstop in the league from 2018 to 2022. He also received high marks for his skills in managing the running game.

MLB News
MLB News

Unfortunately, Barnhart has struggled at the plate this year, with a batting line of just .202/.285/.257 and a wRC+ of 53. He struck out in 34.1% of his plate appearances, marking the worst strikeout rate of his career. This decline in offensive performance coincided with a resurgence from Gomes and a strong debut from Amaya. Gomes is batting .269/.310/.433 with a 98 wRC+, while Amaya has posted a .245/.368/.383 line with a 113 wRC+.

Despite having all three catchers on the active roster for over two months, Barnhart saw limited playing time, with only two plate appearances since August 1st. It appears that the Cubs have opted to use his roster spot to add depth in the infield, leading to Mastrobuoni’s call-up.

Now that the trade deadline has passed, the Cubs will need to place Barnhart on waivers in the coming days. Given his recent struggles and contract terms, it’s highly likely that he will go unclaimed. His contract had evenly distributed salaries of $3.25 million for this year and the next, with an opt-out option after the first season.

Approximately $770,000 remains to be paid this year, with the full amount due next year. Once he clears waivers, Barnhart has accumulated enough service time to reject an outright assignment and opt for free agency, with the Cubs responsible for the remaining salary. Another team could then sign him for the prorated league minimum, with that amount subtracted from what the Cubs owe.

Looking ahead, the Cubs plan to move forward with a catching duo of Gomes and Amaya. Amaya made his debut earlier this season and still has years of club control remaining. While Gomes is in the final guaranteed season of his contract, the Cubs have a $6 million club option for 2024 with a $1 million buyout. The departure of Barnhart may increase the likelihood of the Cubs picking up that option and keeping Gomes for another year, but they may also explore other options to complement Amaya during the offseason.

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