3 former Chicago Cubs who could come back this offseason

Cubs rumors: Could Austin Romine provide catching depth?

Alright, you caught me. Austin Romine might not necessarily have the same flair as the other names on this list, but he could fill a major need for the Cubs this offseason.

Chicago seems unlikely to bring back Willson Contreras, at least at his current asking price. They’ve had multiple seasons to sign Contreras long term, and it simply hasn’t worked out.

With that in mind, who would replace Contreras behind the dish? There should be more than one answer to that question. If Contreras does leave, expect the Cubs to go with a by-committee approach. They signed Yan Gomes last offseason with the expectation that Contreras would leave. Gomes was their Contreras insurance, and they’ll use it wisely. But behind Gomes, there lacks much of a veteran presence. This is where Romine would come in.

Romine only played 28 games with the Cubs in 2021 and slashed a pedestrian .217/.242/.300, but he’s solid enough defensively to provide some catching depth behind Gomes. It shouldn’t come as a surprise if Chicago signs Romine to a cheap one-year deal with a spring training invite attached. It’s a low-risk, high-reward decision for a team that is in a good position to take a few flyers.