What would a dream Chicago Cubs starting lineup look like next season?
By Tim Boyle
Chicago Cubs starting lineup: Willson Contreras batting fifth, C
Cubs fans who really hate reunions will not be pleased to see Willson Contreras back. Technically he hasn’t fully left. But to keep him away from signing with the St. Louis Cardinals, we have to have him as our dream catcher.
Contreras never did end up getting traded this summer due to a lack of destinations and the Cubs holding out for more. The season included a .243/.349/.466 slash line plus a 22 home runs. Injuries got in the way later in the year and are partly to blame for weaker numbers than originally projected.
Even in our waking state, the Cubs are a destination for Contreras. Along with the Cardinals, teams like the San Francisco Giants or maybe even the Houston Astros could take a look at him. He’s an okay defender but more importantly one of the best hitting catchers in the league. Starting anyone else behind the plate on a regular basis just doesn’t feel right. Contreras has been here long enough and knows the pitchers. It’s an advantage over going with someone else—even Yan Gomes.
The one downside: all of those goodbye cards will look ridiculous when Contreras does return. It can be for just a year or maybe more. A huge part of the franchise’s recent history, no dream is complete with someone else behind the dish.