Cubs free agent target: Danny Jansen

The Cubs need a catcher to pair with Miguel Amaya.

I’m going to let you in on a secret.

This article was originally titled “Cubs free agent target: Travis d’Arnaud.” I had written it a couple of days ago, because I thought d’Arnaud would be a good partner for Miguel Amaya.

Then this news broke yesterday:

And, actually, that was pretty close to what I was going to propose in the article: a $7 million deal for 2025 with a $6 million mutual option for 2026, with a $2 million buyout.

But hey, he got more guaranteed money from the Angels. I hope he enjoys a 90+ loss season. Also, this signing probably takes Logan O’Hoppe off the trade market, as the Angels likely view d’Arnaud as a mentor for O’Hoppe.

Instead, let’s turn our attention to another free agent catcher, Danny Jansen, who split last year between the Blue Jays and Red Sox.

There had been some talk that perhaps the Cubs might be interested in trading for Jansen during the 2024 season after Yan Gomes got off to such a horrid start and was eventually released. (Doesn’t that seem like a very long time ago?)

Truth be told, Jansen did not have a good 2024, not at all. He batted .212/.303/.369 with six home runs in 62 games for Toronto, then was worse in Boston: .188/.323/.300 in 30 games. Defensively he had the worst year of his career throwing out runners, just 10 in 72 attempts (13.9 percent), though he had been better in prior years.

I don’t know what to say here. Jansen had been a productive player who hit pretty well prior to 2024. Averaging his best years, he’s about a 2 bWAR player who played good defense. Neither of those things were true in 2024, though.

So one of two things could be true here:

• Jansen’s done and the Cubs should steer clear, or
• Jansen had a rare bad year and maybe the Cubs can get a good player below market value

There are other catchers the Cubs could look at, most of them by trade. There are a few free-agent catchers out there as well, but most of them are in their mid-30s. The only mid-30s catcher who really had any value was d’Arnaud, and he’s taken now.

Jansen made $5.2 million in 2024, a raise from the $3.5 million he made in 2023 when he actually did have a good offensive season (.228/.312/.474 with 17 home runs in only 86 games). If he could get back to that level and play good defense he’s probably worth signing for a year or two, especially since he doesn’t turn 30 until next April.

So here’s my proposal: One year, $4.5 million, with a $5.5 million mutual option or a $1.5 million buyout. The Cubs need a catcher to pair with Miguel Amaya for at least one year. If Moises Ballesteros is ready by 2026, the Cubs could pay the buyout. Otherwise, if Jansen can get back to his 2023 level, this would be a reasonable two-year deal.

Who says no?