The Cubs are reportedly “making progress” on a deal with catcher Carson Kelly (UPDATE)

The Chicago Cubs may soon sign their catcher for next season, Miguel Amaya.

Jon Heyman reports that they are working toward a deal with Carson Kelly, the timing of which would make sense given the Rays’ recent signing of Danny Jansen:

From the start of the offseason, Carson Kelly was the free agent catcher who gave me the slightest edge for the Cubs. He and Danny Jansen were the clear top two free agents in an admittedly very weak class, but Kelly had the much better 2024 season (.238/.313/.374/99 wRC+) and was generally the better defender throughout Career. It felt a bit like Kelly was the safer player, especially if they wanted to pair him with another catcher to take half the starts.

Jansen ultimately received one year and $8.5 million from the Rays after potentially turning down multi-year offers in favor of a re-entry opportunity with a team where he might win the majority of starts. The Cubs were reportedly involved in those discussions.

For comparison: Jansen (29) and Kelly (30) each became regular players at halftime in 2019. Since then, they’ve done the following offensively:

Very similar, although you probably have more upside with Jansen, more recent success with Kelly, and a better glove with Kelly. With Kelly hitting lefties very well, there are also pretty significant traditional splits.

In this year’s class, Kelly might be the best/safest of the group. If the Cubs get it done, it won’t be a hitting move, but it will be a very good and solid move that improves the position of pairing him with Amaya. Matt Thaiss would be well behind the top two players in this case. As for the third catcher, he would have really good depth! Add in the hoped-for development of Moises Ballesteros, and the Cubs could have overall strength at the position as the season progresses.

More soon.

UPDATE: No deal finalized yet, but Jesse Rogers confirms a deal between the Cubs and Carson Kelly is “close.”

Note: If they do actually close a deal, I wonder if they will wait until later in the week to close it. That way, the Cubs would still have an open 40-man spot in the Rule 5 Draft if they wanted to take someone.