MLB Rumors: Willson Contreras Looking For Huge 9-Figure Payday

The Chicago Cubs and veteran catcher Willson Contreras came to terms on a $9.6M contract for this season, avoiding arbitration. That's the good news. The bad news is that he becomes a free agent after this season, and according to MLB Insider Jon Heyman, he'll be looking for a 5-year deal worth $100M. 

Contreras watched last season as his 2016 World Series teammates got dealt, one after the other, in their contract years. Kris Bryant went on to sign a $182M deal with the Colorado Rockies, and Javy Baez signed a $140M pact with the Detroit Tigers. Anthony Rizzo didn't fare as well, settling for a 2-year, $32M deal with the New York Yankees. 

The 30-year-old, two-time All-Star catcher knows his value. Just last year, J.P. Realmuto signed a 5-year, $115M deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. Also last year, Salvador Perez signed a 4-year, $82M contract extension to stay with the Kansas City Royals. 

Contreras is back to being one of the best backstops in all of baseball this season, posting a .277 average, a .933 OPS and 10 home runs thus far, with a 'hard-hit rate' bested only by Aaron Judge and Yordan Alvarez. 

He is clearly now the backbone of this Cubs franchise. But entering into his 30s, will the Cubs be up for a $100M extension? Catchers don't often age well. There's a reason they call it the 'tools of ignorance'.

As noted by many observers, Contreras is extremely likely to be dealt at the trade deadline for a nice haul. Whether the Cubs go after him again in free agency is the $100 million dollar question.

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