Cubs eyeing the perfect response to likely losing Willson Contreras

The Cubs have a plan to backfill Willson Contreras, should they lose him

If we’re being honest, the Chicago Cubs are probably not going to be able to re-sign Willson Contreras. Contreras, an All-Star last season, is going to have several suitors, and reportedly the Houston Astros are already making advances toward the catcher.

Competing with the Astros for free agents after they just won a World Series is going to be tough, considering they’ve proven they’re a championship competitor year-in and year-out.

The Cubs have a solid plan in place to backfill for Contreras though, and it’s perfect considering it involves getting right back at the Astros if they are to snag Contreras.

Cubs considering Christian Vasquez

Bob Nightengale reported that in addition to Contreras getting interest from the Astros, the Cubs are showing interest in Astros’ free agent catcher Christian Vasquez:

Essentially, it would be a winter swap of catchers for the two teams.

Vasquez started 2022 with the Boston Red Sox, but was traded to the Astros, and was a crucial part of the team’s World Series run. He and Martin Maldonado split a decent amount of time down the stretch of the postseason.

He gave the Astros a meaningful insurance RBI in the sixth inning of the closing game of the World Series for Houston:

While the Astros probably wouldn’t mind retaining mid-season additions that helped them win the title like Vasquez and Trey Mancini, there’s little long-running attachment with those players and they were added as stretch additions. Houston would certainly consider bringing them back for longer deals, but there’s reason to believe the Cubs could pry Vasquez away at the right price, especially if Houston is looking at other options at catcher.

Vasquez has experience winning two World Series: One in Boston (2018) and then this year with Houston. He doesn’t have the same resume as Contreras with no All-Star appearances to his name, but he’d be a quality addition for the Cubs and an ironic backfill if Houston does snag Willson.