Willson Contreras trade rumors: Mets have new competition for Cubs star

The New York Mets have been pursuing some catching help with Cubs catcher Willson Contreras. Now, they have competition. 

Offense has been very low at the catching position in recent years as only seven teams enter Tuesday with an offensive production above league average at the catching position. The New York Mets are no exception to that as they have one of the worst offensive outputs for catchers. Their catchers have a 54 wRC+, or 46 below league average. One of the teams that is above league average is the Cubs, who are looking to trade the main contributor of that: Willson Contreras.

The Mets have expressed interest in trading Contreras before but now, they have some competition: the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rays and Mets are trying to get Cubs catcher Willson Contreras

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Tampa Bay Rays have joined the New York Mets as two of a few teams that are trying to trade for Cubs catcher Willson Contreras. Rosenthal also says that Contreras could be a backup option for the Padres if they don’t pull off a deal for Juan Soto.

For the Rays, like the Mets, they also have a catching corps that has struggled offensively. Their catchers have a wRC+ of 69 on the season, which is 25th in baseball. The Padres catchers, on the other hand, have a wRC+ of 93, or ninth in baseball.

Contreras was the National League’s starting catcher for the All-Star game this year. He enters Trade Deadline day with 86 games played and an offensive slash line of .252/.365/.453, 14 home runs, 38 RBI, 20 doubles, and a wRC+ of 132.

He is a free agent at the end of this season so he would only be a rental but Contreras has a good postseason resume as well. In 30 postseason games with the Cubs, he has hit .231/.362/.385 with three home runs and seven RBI.