The Chicago Cubs just got unceremoniously swept by the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card round, ending their 2026 season in a total bummer. Everyone’s already talking about where they’ll find new arms for the pitching staff and who’s gonna fill the outfield gaps for 2027. But hold up, ESPN’s Jesse Rogers is hitting us with a take that the catcher position, thanks to three key players, is gonna make for a “very interesting” offseason question. And honestly, it feels like this could get way more complicated than anyone’s ready for.
Kelly, Ayers, Amaya: The Catcher Trio Making Noise
So, why is this catcher situation so wild? First off, you’ve got Kelly, who Rogers says has been “nothing short of excellent” for the Cubs over his two years in Chicago. The guy’s got a mutual option for next season, which always adds a layer of complexity. Then there’s Owen Ayers, an “up-and-coming catcher” who’s clearly on the radar. And let’s not forget Miguel Amaya, who’s still under team control. That’s three legitimate catchers, all with a claim, all in different spots contract-wise. What in the world do you even do with that kind of roster puzzle?
Hoyer’s Big Winter Puzzle
Cubs’ Jed Hoyer has some serious brain-bending decisions ahead. One path is pretty straightforward: they could just let Kelly walk and snag some veteran to take over the starting job. Easy peasy, right? But then there’s the other side, where picking up Kelly’s option and bringing back the guy who’s been excellent for two years just makes a ton of sense. And with Amaya and Ayers hanging out as depth options, or even potential starters if they need them, this isn’t some simple choice. Rogers says that the calls on the starting rotation and bullpen are pretty much decided, and it looks like fan favorites Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ are probably bailing in free agency. But when it comes to who’s behind the plate? That’s the real wild card this winter.
Honestly, this catcher question might not be the loudest storyline in Chicago’s offseason, but how Hoyer and the Cubs set up that position for the 2027 MLB season is gonna be absolutely critical for their deep postseason run goals. It’s the kind of decision that could seriously define their entire year. Oh, and speaking of making history on the base paths, did you catch that Mariners’ Josh Naylor just joined Hall of Famer George Sisler with some rare stolen base MLB history? Wild stuff happening across the league, man.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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