After consecutive 83-79 seasons and missing out on the playoffs both times, the Cubs are beginning one of their most crucial winters in recent years. As the hot stove season kicks off in earnest, we analyze the Cubs depth chart at each position and how Jed Hoyer and the Cubs front office might address the team’s needs.

First up: Catcher

DEPTH CHART

1. Miguel Amaya
2. Moisés Ballesteros
3. Pablo Aliendo

ANALYSIS

The Cubs entered 2024 with a clear path behind the plate. Amaya would split duties with Yan Gomes and, the team hoped eventually the young Panamanian backstop would emerge as the clear No. 1. The last part of that happened, but it was more out of need than performance and the journey there was a rollercoaster.

[MORE: Projecting the 2025 Cubs roster]

Gomes never built upon his solid 2023 offensive campaign (.723 OPS, 10 HR), posting a .421 OPS in 34 games with just 4 extra-base hits. He was designated for assignment by June and Amaya was thrust into the everyday catcher role. The second catcher role became a revolving door until they added Christian Bethancourt, but he was placed on waivers when the offseason began and is a free agent.

But Amaya, offensively, wasn’t much better.

By the end of June, Amaya was hitting .189 and was a non-factor at the plate. At the beginning of July, he was benched as he worked with a new tweak in his swing — dropping his leg kick in his load for a toe tap — and it brought immediate results. The 25-year-old had a 7-game hitting streak and from July 7 on (54 games) Amaya slashed .282/.331/.468 with a 124 wRC+, 6 home runs and 32 RBI.

That was all while being a pitcher’s best friend behind the plate. He had a 3.62 catcher’s ERA, which ranked 8th among backstops who had caught a minimum of 600 innings.

The question becomes: Who is Amaya? Is he the catcher who was hitting below .200? or is he an elite-level bat behind the plate like he was in the second half?

WHAT’S NEXT?

It’s hard to promise or guarantee anything in the offseason. Free agency is largely unpredictable, and trades come out of nowhere (who saw the Michael Busch deal coming at this time last year?)

But it’s safe to assume the Cubs will add a veteran catcher to their 40-man roster this offseason, via trade or free agency. Despite his late-season success, Amaya isn’t seen as an everyday, true no. 1 backstop.

If the Cubs could draw up their catching scenario perfectly for 2025, it’d be Amaya and another veteran splitting playing time 50-50. That would allow both to stay fresh during a grueling season at the most taxing position on the diamond. Maybe some of Amaya’s early season struggles wouldn’t happen because he could play in the right matchups and wouldn’t have to play every day.

The free agent market isn’t too deep: Danny Jansen (career .726 OPS, 100 wRC+) and Elias Díaz (career .692 OPS, 78 wRC+; 2023 All-Star Game MVP) are some of the players available. Travis d’Arnaud was a solid option but he just signed with the Angels this week.

The Cubs could still bring back Bethancourt, too. Whoever it may be, the Cubs will have a veteran complement to Amaya in some form in 2025.  

The Cubs are bullish on Ballesteros’ bat. Across 124 games in 2024 at Double-A and Triple-A, the 21-year-old slashed .289/.354/.471 (.826 OPS) with a 127 wRC+, 19 home runs and 78 RBI. His glove, though, isn’t as polished as his offense. So, to assume he could just step in next year as a complement to Amaya is unrealistic and not something the Cubs are considering.

[WATCH: Making the case for Moisés Ballesteros to make the Cubs roster]

Instead, Ballesteros could serve as a third catcher who could DH and occasionally fill in at first base, essentially a Swiss Army Knife type that Craig Counsell can use to maximize his offense.

Aliendo is an intriguing name. He was in major-league camp during Spring Training in 2024 and is Rule-5 eligible. He’ll need to be added to the 40-man roster next week if the Cubs don’t want to risk losing him in the Rule-5 Draft next month.

He had an .808 OPS in 58 games at Double-A Tennessee with 10 home runs and 10 doubles. He’s long been regarded as a defensive catcher, but his offense over the last 2 years has improved, making him an intriguing option. Even if he is added to the 40-man next week, Aliendo would likely be a minor league depth option in 2025, since he hasn’t even played at the Triple-A level yet.

BOTTOM LINE

Amaya will make plenty of starts for the Cubs behind the plate in 2025, but who shares that playing time with him is a mystery — and a storyline to follow this offseason. Ballesteros very well could make starts for the Cubs at catcher next year and could impact them offensively, too.

State of the Cubs series
Catcher
First base
Second base
Third base
Shortstop
Left field
Center field
Right field: Nov. 22
DH: Nov. 25
Starting rotation: Nov. 26
Bullpen: Nov. 27