Cubs Eye Reinforcements with Carson Kelly Agreement Near

As the Winter Meetings progress, the Chicago Cubs have continued their search for catching reinforcements and appear to have found a solution. According to multiple sources, the Cubs are nearing an agreement with free-agent catcher Carson Kelly. Although the details of the contract have not been disclosed, and the deal has not been officially confirmed by the Cubs, it appears likely to happen soon.


Kelly would join Miguel Amaya as the Cubs' primary catching options, providing manager Craig Counsell with the flexibility to distribute playing time more evenly rather than following a traditional starter-backup setup. This balanced approach to the catching position was a key objective for the Cubs this offseason. With other free-agent catching targets such as Travis d’Arnaud (Angels), Kyle Higashioka (Rangers), and Danny Jansen (Rays) already off the market, Kelly emerged as the logical choice for the Cubs. 


In November, the Cubs also acquired Matt Thaiss from the Angels to further bolster their catching depth. Thaiss, who is out of Minor League options, adds another layer of complexity for the Cubs to manage before the next season begins.


The Cubs also have a promising young catching prospect in Moises Ballesteros, who is currently ranked No. 4 among Cubs prospects and No. 44 on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 list. At just 21 years old, Ballesteros is primarily a bat-first player and is expected to profile more as a designated hitter and part-time catcher. While he could push for an MLB debut in 2025, he is not part of the Cubs' immediate plans for the upcoming season.

​
With the potential addition of Kelly and the strategic use of Amaya and Thaiss, the Cubs are aiming to strengthen their catching corps and improve overall team flexibility as they prepare for the 2025 season.