3 offseason moves Cubs can make to build around Willson Contreras

With the likes of Javy Baez, Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant out the door and unlikely to return, the Chicago Cubs are left with Willson Contreras and little else in their rebuild.

This is why it’s imperative to build around Contreras, who will be entering the final season of his contract next season. Contreras plays a premium position in catcher, making him an obvious target to be the focal point of the next era of Cubs baseball.

So, where should the Cubs start?

Minus Kyle Hendriks, the Cubs don’t have much of a pitching staff assembled for Contreras to lead. Add in lacking depth across the board, and the Cubs front office led by Jed Hoyer has plenty of work to do this offseason if they actually plan on building a winner.

Cubs should extend Willson Contreras

Okay, the first option might sound like a cop-out, but there is no new Cubs core without Contreras. If they trade him for top prospect capital, or allow him to walk after next season, they’ll be starting from scratch hoping to eventually acquire a player as talented as he is.

The correct decision would be to extend Contreras while they have money to spend. The Ricketts’ family is notoriously cheap of late, but they no longer have to pay Baez, Rizzo, or Bryant. Contreras is still in his prime and will be more affordable than JT Realmuto, we promise.

Contreras is hitting .230 as of this writing with tremendous power for his position — 17 home runs. He’s a run-producing backstop who can lead a pitching staff as well. He’s entering one last arbitration year and if the Cubs want to avoid another legal battle over his income, it’d be wise.