Report: Cubs' Willson Contreras Being 'Extensively' Shopped After Darvish Trade

The Chicago Cubs appear to be clearing their books of high-priced contracts.

The team reportedly is shopping catcher Willson Contreras on the trade market, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, after already dealing Yu Darvish to the San Diego Padres and non-tendering slugger Kyle Schwarber. 

Per that report, Contreras is owed $5 million for the 2021 season, a figure that could rise to $7.4 million in arbitration.

It isn't the first report that the Cubs are willing to move on from Contreras. On Dec. 3, the New York Post's Joel Sherman wrote that Chicago was "very open" to dealing the veteran catcher. 

Contreras, 28, has spent his entire five-year MLB career with the Cubs, with two All-Star Game selections and a World Series title in 2016. He hit .243 with seven homers and 26 RBI in 57 games last season, posting a .763 ERA. He has two seasons with 20 or more home runs, offering solid pop from the catcher position. 

For teams that miss out on the J.T. Realmuto sweepstakes in free agency, Contreras could be a nice contingency plan. 

It would be a somewhat curious move from the Cubs, however, with the team trading its other catcher, Victor Caratini, to the Padres in the Darvish deal. But it appears as though the Cubs are entering fire sale territory:

This from a team that won the NL Central in 2020 and has reached the postseason in five of the past six seasons. Cubs' fans have reason to be irate if the team continues down this path. It might be a long season in Chicago.