Tucker Barnhart is teaming up with the Cubs

CHICAGO — The expected departure of All-Star pitcher Willson Contreras this offseason forced the Cubs to rethink their approach to that area. It became increasingly clear that Chicago’s plan was more of a defense-first strategy.

On Thursday, sources told MLB.com that the Cubs agreed to a two-year deal with free agent catcher Tucker Barnhart, who has a pair of Gold Glove Awards on his resume. The contract is worth $6.5 million guaranteed, and the 2024 season is included via a player option, according to the source.

The Cubs have not confirmed the deal, pending a physical.

Barnhart provides a lefty bat to pair with veteran pitcher Yan Gomes, who joined the Cubs last season and quickly won over Chicago’s pitchers. Contreras and Gomes formed a strong tandem, but their chances of continuing together were officially lost when Contreras signed a five-year, $85.5 million contract with the Cardinals.

The Cubs nearly dealt Contreras at the trade deadline last year — a one-for-one deal for Houston pitcher Jos Urquidy fell apart at the last minute, sources confirmed — so the team was fully prepared for his exit this offseason. This helped Chicago chart its approach to the position.

“It’s a two-pronged position,” Cubs director of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said at GM Meetings in November. “Obviously you want guys who can hit, but it’s a run prevention position. A lot of it is play calling, preparation, a strong sense that everything the pitchers do is an ‘us’ thing. It’s about teamwork and working together.”

Losing Contreras’ offensive production (.815 OPS and 128 OPS+ in 2022) hurts, but the Cubs can hope to get some of that back through the free agents of center fielder Cody Bellinger and Dansby Swanson. Chicago certainly hasn’t explored ways to add a bat yet.

Free agent options Christian Vzquez (three-year, $30 million contract with the Twins) and Omar Narvez (two-year, $15 million contract with the Mets) are off the board, as are Luke Maile (Reds), Mike Zunino (Guardians). ) and Austin Hedges (Pirates) on one-year contracts. Sean Murphy looked like a potential fit, but the A’s traded him to the Braves — in a three-team deal that in turn sent catcher William Contreras, Willson’s younger brother, to the rival Brewers.

The Cubs found their spot in Barnhart, who is more than familiar with the club after he redshirted with the Reds from 2014-21. He won Gold Glove Awards in ’17 and ’20, and his best offensive season came in ’17 when he hit .270 with a .750 OPS and a 95 OPS+ in Cincinnati.

Barnhart’s defensive numbers took a hit in ’22 (-8 saves and -2.3 saves), but that was out of step with his accomplishments. And while his strikeouts were relatively flat last season, he has had better career success against righties (.705 OPS) than lefties (.580 OPS).

Gomes, 35, has built a strong reputation in his 11 MLB seasons for working with pitchers, adjusting the game and controlling the running game. Last season, the veteran was a much better hitter in the second half (.743 OPS) than he was in the first (.542 OPS) as his familiarity and comfort with pitchers grew.

“With Bellinger and Dansby coming in, it looks like they’re going to take a big step forward defensively,” Taillon said. “It excited me and I’ve heard really, really great things about working with Yan Gomes on the grip side. We talked about all that.”

From there, the Cubs will continue to add depth around the roster.

“We’re trying to figure out around the edges, what are the different places that maybe we can continue to add?” Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins said this week. “That’s something we look at in terms of our bullpen and then we just think, ‘You can never have enough arms,’ and we think about the different​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​