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.
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.
Gomes is known to bring intangible value and is highly respected by his pitchers and the coaching staff. However, it became clear that the Cubs need more actual on-field production from the position.
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 so many responsibilities as the primary catcher.
(Photo of Yan Gomes: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
