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The Chicago Cubs have been fortunate enough to not have any serious health concerns in spring training, as Pedro Strop is the only real question mark to make the Opening Day roster after missing time because of a calf issue. However, there is one position battle that is still up for grabs down in Mesa.
This was discussed at the beginning of camp, when an article from NBC Sports Chicago proclaimed Victor Caratini as Willson Contreras’ backup. I argued that it was almost a certainty that it would be veteran Chris Gimenez handling the backup duties behind the plate. Well, a month later and Cubs manager Joe Maddon still doesn’t know who the team’s backup catcher will be.
Via Cubs.com.
Maddon projects Willson Contreras catching five to six days a week, but the Cubs have yet to determine who will back him up. Do they go with Victor Caratini, who made his Major League debut last season, or veteran Chris Gimenez?
“That’s probably going to be the most difficult decision or conversation,” Maddon said. “It has been among all of us. … This will go down to the wire.”
The Cubs added an extra wrinkle earlier this week, as they’re apparently discussing whether to have eight pitchers in the bullpen, or another position player. So, technically the Cubs could go with three catchers, but that’s a very long shot, especially when you consider that Maddon has Contreras penciled in to start all but one or two games a week.
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The other factor that has been talked about is how having Caratini as the backup and only playing once a week really doesn’t do anything for his development. Maddon has even brought that up in the past as well as his infatuation with having a veteran backup catcher.
Looking at spring training stats, I know they’re meaningless, but hey that’s what we got to work with here, Caratini has the clear edge. Gimenez has never been a great hitter throughout his MLB career, slashing .218/.309/.345, in 870 at bats. So far in spring training, the 35-year-old has a slash line of .219/.297/.313, with one home run in 32 at bats.
Meanwhile, Caratini has a .265/.419/.412, slash line in 34 at bats with one home run as well. Caratini made his MLB debut in June 2017, and although Willson Contreras missed time because of a hamstring injury, the rookie only got seven starts behind the plate, while playing in 22 total games. In his limited playing time, he hit .254 with a .333 OBP.
There’s no doubt who the better hitter between the two is, but Gimenez might just get the edge based on experience and who he knows. Gimenez has played not only under Maddon with the Tampa Bay Rays, but has worked with Cubs pitching Jim Hickey in Tampa Bay too. Plus, Gimenez has caught Yu Darvish in the past with the Texas Rangers and are close friends to this day.
It may sound cliche, but Maddon just loves to have that backup veteran presence, so I’d still be surprised if Gimenez wasn’t named the backup catcher coming out of spring training. That would also give regular playing time in Triple-A for Caratini.
