Inside The Cubs

Chicago Cubs Star Speaks Out on Cardinals' Contreras Catching Saga

Chicago Cubs catcher Tucker Barnhart speaks his mind on the St. Louis Cardinals relieving Wilson Contreras of his catching duties.
Kade Kistner|
Chicago Cubs Star Speaks Out on Cardinals' Contreras Catching Saga
Chicago Cubs Star Speaks Out on Cardinals' Contreras Catching Saga

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Chicago CubsSt. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals have recently relieved Wilson Contreras of his catching duties after he made 24 starts behind the plate to begin the season.

It's a wild notion considering they signed Contreras to a five-year, $87.5 million contract to, well... play catcher. 

It's almost as if the Chicago Cubs understood Contreras's limitations behind the plate and decided not to pursue an extension with him?

But it's still a sticky situation, especially this early on in the season and in his tenure with the Cardinals. 

It's something current Cubs catcher Tucker Barnhart alluded to when he spoke with the Chicago Sun-Times.

“I’m sure it’s a hard thing to hear and a hard thing to swallow,” said Barnhart. “It’s surprising for sure. It feels like it’s really early in the year, early in his tenure in St. Louis for them to make that decision.” 

It's sort of sad to see. Contreras was with the Cubs organization for nearly a decade and a half, but ever since he has joined St. Louis, let's just say there hasn't been any love lost.

You never like to see a player down like this, but it appears Chicago knew what they were dealing with. 

So much for replacing Yadier Molina. 

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Kade Kistner
KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Cubs. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.

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