The Cubs are heading into the winter with one of their clearest roster questions sitting right behind the plate, and Carson Kelly looks unlikely to be part of the answer next season.
Jed Hoyer said at his season-ending press conference that he expects the club to look a lot different in 2027, and that reality is already starting to show up in the catcher conversation. Kelly spent two seasons in Chicago, and both ended with the Cubs in the playoffs.
He gave them exactly what they needed: steadiness, veteran presence, and a reliable partner for Miguel Amaya in a catching tandem that mattered to the way the team functioned. He was not the headline star, but he filled a real need.
Now the Cubs have to figure out what comes next.
A trade for a big-name upgrade does not look likely. Hunter Goodman is the kind of target that would make sense on paper, but the Cubs do not appear to have the kind of farm-system firepower it would take to pull that off. The Rockies would want young talent, and unless Chicago is willing to part with Josiah Hartshorn, Ethan Conrad, or Cade Townsend, that path seems out of reach.
That pushes the discussion toward free agency, even if the Cubs could explore the trade market for other catchers. The problem there is simple: they have other holes to patch, especially on the pitching side, and those trade chips may be needed elsewhere.
Re-signing Kelly is also on the table, but with a weak free-agent catching class, he is expected to command a strong deal. He has also already said goodbye to the franchise on social media.
If the Cubs want to lean into what already works, there is another route: add one of the best defensive catchers available and keep building around a club that already led baseball in defensive runs saved.
Tyler Stephenson fits that idea. He was arguably the best defensive catcher in baseball, and the numbers back up the reputation.
He posted 11 blocks, was above average in pitch blocking, and led the league in challenges won. He also gave the bat some value, hitting .241 with 15 home runs and 54 RBIs.
There is a little extra utility there, too. Stephenson has some experience at first base, which would give the Cubs another option if they need to give Michael Busch a breather.
Of course, Chicago could also decide not to make a splash at all. Miguel Amaya could step into the lead role, with prospect Owen Ayers as the backup.
But for a team trying to contend, that would require a lot of faith in two relatively unproven options. That is why a move for a more established catcher feels like the cleaner answer.
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Cubs May Have A More Realistic Guardians Trade Option After All
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Adells appeal comes with the usual caveats, though, because his profile still comes with both strengths and weaknesses that make him more of a calculated swing than a sure thing. For the Cubs, the question is whether his upside is worth the risk if Cleveland makes him available. The Guardians offseason decisions could determine whether this remains a speculative fit or becomes a more realistic option for Chicago to pursue. [Read more 🡒]
Former Cubs Could Be Back In Play Despite One Big Problem
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Still, the biggest obstacle is rarely talent. In each case, the Cubs would have to sort through the same question that ended the relationship the first time, while also deciding whether those roster spots are better spent elsewhere. With several former Cubs potentially available, the front office may have options, but the real challenge is figuring out which ones make sense once the market opens and the priorities get clearer. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs First Offseason Move Says Plenty About Jed Hoyers Pitching Plan
The Cubs wasted little time after the 40-man roster deadline, claiming right-handed reliever Eric Orze off waivers from the Twins. It is not the kind of move that turns heads on its own, but it does fit the early shape of Chicagos offseason, where pitching help is expected to be the priority and every roster addition is likely to be viewed through that lens.
Orze brings a recent major league track record, having pitched in 36 games for Minnesota this past season, though the results were uneven and the underlying numbers were mixed. For a Cubs front office that appears willing to sift through the margins for useful arms, he looks like the sort of reclamation gamble that can be part of a larger plan, even if the bigger pitching moves are still ahead. [Read more 🡒]