DaDeacs
Dickie Hemric
I value Contreras more than the prior players that have left. Catchers are a separate category and Wilson still has upside with the DH providing him 500-600 plate appearances, as long as a second viable catcher is available to give him rest behind the plate. I was OK with the departure of everyone else. They wanted stupid money to resign and none of them came close to their asking price on the open market. Contreras reminds me of Maddox, someone truly special because his best is still to come. The proper approach with Maddox was "put your request in writing" and then sign on without question. The Cardinals didn't make a mistake with Molina, the Cubs shouldn't with Contreras. If they do, the Cardinals might reach deep in their pockets for him.
The last 5 years of Molina haven't been good, and he is getting paid more as a figurehead than anything else - and they got him for 5/$75 during his prime (ages 29-34) - the Cubs would readily jump at that contract for Willy right now, but I don't think it will be an option.
Again, not my money, so I would be fine having Willy on the team as he ages, but his catching skills are average, at best (outside of his arm strength and throwing out baserunners), so you figure he is not going to be catching by 34-35 years old. So, you really want Willy on a 4 year deal right now, or some sort of longer term deal where the last few years are super low - something like a 7/$100 broken out at $15/$20/$20/$20/$10/$8/$7. No chance Contreras would take something like that, but he is asking for $10.5 million in arb right now, and knows he has to maximize this contract, as very few catchers make any money after 35.