3 contracts Cubs can trade to free up room for Carlos Correa
By Mark Powell
Cubs: Trading Willson Contreras helps Chicago sign Carlos Correa
While this may sound counterproductive, it’s okay to admit the Cubs are a team on a budget. Correa would take up a significant amount of that budget, as well.
Contreras is on the final year of his pre-arbitration contract. He’s not thrilled with the Cubs, especially after they signed a former All-Star catcher in Yan Gomes this offseason to a two-year deal. That, uh, lasts longer than Contreras’ contract. Contreras will enter arbitration talks after the 2022 season and is owed just under $7 million in 2021.
It’s not a bad contract by any means, especially for an All-Star level catcher. If the Cubs are smart, they can trade Contreras for either prospects which can help them win in the near future, or young players ready to contribute right away. Either way, it’s a win for a franchise looking to retool on the fly.
Correa has stated a rebuild doesn’t scare him. It’s easy to see why he feels that way, considering he once was a young farmhand for an Astros franchise that went from embarrassing rebuild to 2017 World Series champions, sign-stealing or not.
Trade Contreras. Plan for the future. Sign Correa. Meanwhile, Gomes can slide in as a starting catcher.