MLB executives expect the catching trade market to play out before free agents such as Willson Contreras can leverage their markets.
It was one of the reasons the Cubs believe they found what one source called a “tepid” market when they shopped him hard in the weeks leading up to the Aug. 2 trade deadline. Another big reason was the general hitter-market slowdown created by the Nationals’ eventual decision to trade Juan Soto — who was traded to the Padres, who were early suitors for Contreras.
“We know we’re not going to replace Yadi,” Cardinals baseball operations president John Mozeliak said. “He was a defensive savant. But we don’t want to take a huge step back defensively because our team is centered around defense. “We’re gonna explore the trade market and understand what that looks like,” he said. “Certainly, we’re going to try to understand what the free agent market looks like.Executives from both leagues predicted this week that the trade market for catchers will play out before Contreras’ market gets sorted out, with speculation focused on whether Oakland makes Gold Glove catcher Sean Murphy available and Toronto dealing from the trio of Danny Jansen, Gabriel Moreno or even All-Star Alejandro Kirk.
It’s also an area he’s getting an earful from fans about, including at both airports on his travels to the GM meetings.
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