Cubs: A new report suggests that Willson Contreras won’t return

At the 2022 Major League Baseball trade deadline, the Chicago Cubs traded off a few of their relievers but were much quieter than everyone expected. It was thought that they were going to trade both Willson Contreras and Ian Happ.

Wildly, they didn’t trade either of them. They still have control of Happ beyond 2022 but Contreras is an unrestricted free agent. It is crazy that this team didn’t move him for assets when they had absolutely no chance of making it to the postseason.

Now, it sounds like they are going to lose Contreras in free agency for nothing. According to a report from Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Cubs have no interest in bringing him back for the 2023 season and beyond. He said this to MIke Bernan on NBC Sports Chicago.

The fact that Bob thinks that there is no chance that he returns is not the end all be all. He has been wrong about things plenty but it is not a good sign. He didn’t pull this opinion out of anywhere. It could also be a tactic by the Cubs to have him report this for their benefit.

The Chicago Cubs are potentially moving on from Willson Contreras in 2023.

It is a situation of pros and cons when it comes to re-signing him. He is an aging catcher that gets hurt every now and then. This is also a team that may be better in 2023 but nobody actually thinks they will be competing for a World Series anytime soon.

Even if they are active in free agency, it will still take time and the development of their young players for that to happen. Competing with the likes of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, and New York Mets is still a long way away.

One of the big problems with letting him go, however, is losing a good player and leader in the short term. There is also the risk of him running off to sing with a team like the St. Louis Cardinals who could desperately use a catcher next year. It is definitely a big decision.

Contreras playing for a rival in 2023 would feel much better if the Cubs would have gotten something for him at the deadline.

They misplayed this whole thing. Contreras was left out to dry leading up to the deadline as he was clearly emotional about leaving and then he never did. Now, his future is as cloudy as ever.