Chicago Cubs Trade for Veteran Catcher

The Chicago Cubs continued their offseason tinkering with their major league roster by trading for catcher Matt Thaiss in a deal with the Los Angeles Angels. The deal was made after the Angels signed Travis d’Arnaud last week and designated Thaiss for assignment as a corresponding transaction. Thaiss is heading to Chicago to pair with Miguel Amaya to try and improve the Cubs’ catching situation, a weakness on the roster since losing Willson Contreras to the St. Louis Cardinals. In exchange for Thaiss, Chicago sent cash considerations to Los Angeles. The acquisition of Thaiss is the latest in a string of stints for veteran catchers trying to be productive as a backup to Amaya. Last season, Chicago went through Yan Gomes, Tomas Nido, and Christian Bethancourt in the backup role, and the club was forced to rely heavily on a struggling Amaya throughout the year. The acquisition serves a dual purpose. If Amaya continues to struggle in 2025, Thaiss can hopefully be a reliable backstop and keep top-catching prospec