Report: Cubs could trade star player before start of season
The Chicago Cubs have seen an exodus of star players over the last year, but they might not be done moving big names.
The Cubs are considering a trade of catcher Willson Contreras, according to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. Levine mentioned the San Diego Padres and New York Yankees as possible suitors, and suggested a trade could happen before the start of the regular season.
On @670TheScore, Bruce Levine is indicating heavily that the #Cubs could trade Wilson Contreras; maybe prior to the season. NYY and SDP mentioned. I personally wouldn’t give him a long-term deal either. Should be a pretty significant haul.
— James Fox (@JamesFox917) March 26, 2022
Any major factor in a Contreras trade would be his contract status. The catcher is in his final year of arbitration and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. The Cubs essentially have to decide if they want to pay him long-term, trade him, or risk losing him for nothing.
The 29-year-old Contreras hit .237 with 21 home runs last season. A two-time All-Star, he had his best campaign in 2019, when he hit .272 with 24 homers.
Photo: Sep 7, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (40) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
