Chicago Cubs Sign 2x Gold Glove Catcher

The Chicago Cubs were used to getting solid offense behind the plate for years from catcher Willson Contreras. With their signing today of two-time Gold Glover Tucker Barnhart, they'll go into the future with defense the name of the game at backstop. 

Barnhart Cubs deal. 2 yr deal. 2024 is a PLAYER option. total guarantee $6.5M, with the total PB’s and escalators the deal has potential to get to $9.5M. Pending physical.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 22, 2022

It's a 2-year deal for Barnhart with a player option for 2024 and a total guarantee of $6.5M. With incentives, he could reach $9.5M.

The 32-year-old spent the first eight years of his big league career with the Cincinnati Reds, winning Gold Gloves behind the plate in 2017 and 2020. He spent last season with the Detroit Tigers. Barnhart has a career average of .245 with a .680 OPS, but obviously the main skills he brings to the table are behind the plate. 

The Reds were apparently in contact with Barnhart this offseason about a potential reunion, but with Tyler Stephenson their young star behind the plate, his role wouldn't have been as substantial as in the past. 

Barnhart played in just 94 games for the Tigers in 2022, and hit just .221 with a dreadful .554 OPS. Their early-season thoughts of possibly extending him after the 2022 season quickly went up in smoke.

He'll now take his defensive talents to Wrigley Field.

Photo: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports