CHICAGO – As the Chicago Cubs try to fix one of the worst catching setups in baseball, Tomás Nido has taken over Yan Gomes’ old locker in the Wrigley Field clubhouse. The Cubs designated Gomes for assignment before Wednesday’s morning session against the San Francisco Giants, eliminating a veteran catcher widely admired for his leadership skills and ability to earn the trust of pitchers. But approaching his 37th birthday, Gomes’ game has deteriorated rapidly.
Nido, who was released by the New York Mets this week, shouldn’t be viewed as the savior of a mediocre offense and underperforming defense, but his presence behind the plate should be an improvement.
The combination of Gomes and Miguel Amaya has produced the second-lowest WAR (minus-1.3, FanGraphs) and third-lowest wRC+ (37) in baseball. After a solid 2023 season, Gomes’ offensive production has plummeted. His frame has also regressed and become negative for the second consecutive season, according to multiple measurements.
“Yan is a great teammate and an important person in the clubhouse,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “But in the end, we felt like we had to try to get more production out of the catch point. “That’s what instigated the move.”
It will cost the Cubs a little more than $370,000 to add Nido, sources said, which is equal to the prorated portion of the Major League minimum salary. Nido had agreed to a two-year, $3.7 million contract with the Mets ahead of the 2023 season.
Nido, 30, was originally selected by the Mets in the eighth round of the 2012 Draft out of a high school in Florida. That familiarity with the New York staff also appealed to the Cubs when the Mets visit Wrigley Field this weekend for a three-game series.
“A lot of emotions after being with the Mets for a long time, but now I’m excited to work on a new opportunity,” Nido said. “I am very happy to be here. “I am very excited to start with the boys.”
Nido will be time-shared with Amaya, a well-regarded two-way prospect who missed a lot of development time in Chicago’s farm system while recovering from injuries. Amaya, 25, has struggled to get into an offensive rhythm while assuming the responsibilities of a primary receiver.
Counsell described Nido as an “excellent catcher” and downplayed any concerns that the catcher would have to learn a new pitching staff and a new game-planning system on the fly.
“Those guys are well-versed in having to take in a lot of information and learn quickly,” Counsell said. “It’s part of the job.”
Gomes, who had been a key part of Chicago’s post-Wilson Contreras plan, returned this season when the Cubs exercised his $6 million contract option. Gomes was an All-Star, won the Silver Slugger and was a significant presence on the Washington Nationals team that won the 2019 World Series. If he decides to pursue a career in coaching or management, Gomes will likely have options, given his resume and reputation.
(Photo by Yan Gomes: Michael Reaves//Keynote USA/Getty Images)
Keynote USA
For the Latest Sports News, Follow Keynote USA Sports on Twitter.