Catcher Tucker Barnhart has agreed to a two-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, a source confirmed to ESPN on Friday. Worth $6.5 million, the value of the deal could escalate to $9.5 million due to the inclusion of the possibility to earn an additional $3 million in incentives. The deal also includes a player option for 2024.
A Golden Glove winner, Barnhart is a welcome arrival at a Cubs side that is desperately seeking to improve its defensive capabilities going into the next season.
Barnhart, who turns 32 years old on January 7, is expected to either back up or rotate with Yan Gomes. By adding Barnhart to the team, the Cubs will be hoping to fill the void left behind by Willson Contreras, the team’s starting catcher from last season. Contreras departed the team for an $87.5 million, five-year contract with St. Louis as a free agent.
This will be Barnhart’s second stint in the National League, his first being a solitary season with the Detroit Tigers.
