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 matinee against the San Francisco Giants, dropping a veteran catcher widely admired for his leadership skills and ability to gain pitchers’ trust. But nearing his 37th birthday, Gomes’ game has rapidly deteriorated.
Advertisement
Nido, who was released by the New York Mets this week, shouldn’t be viewed as the savior for a lackluster offense and an underperforming defense, but his presence behind the plate should be an upgrade.
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 cratered. His framing has also regressed and become a negative for the second season in a row, according to multiple measures.
“Yan is a great teammate and an important person in the clubhouse,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “But in the end, we just felt like we had to make an attempt at trying to get more production out of the catching spot. That’s what instigated the move.”
It will cost the Cubs a little more than $370,000 to add Nido, sources said, which amounts 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 high school in Florida. That familiarity with New York’s personnel also appealed to the Cubs as the Mets will 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’m very happy to be here. I’m very excited to get going with the boys.”
Nido will be in a timeshare 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 taking on the responsibilities of a primary catcher.
Counsell described Nido as an “excellent receiver” and downplayed any concerns about the catcher having to learn a new pitching staff and game-planning system on the fly.
Advertisement
“Those guys are well-versed at 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-Willson Contreras plan, was brought back this season when the Cubs picked up their $6 million contractual option. Gomes is a one-time All-Star, a Silver Slugger winner 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 of Yan Gomes: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)