Willson Contreras has been one of the most consistent and productive hitters at the catcher position in Major League Baseball (MLB) since his debut in 2016. He has become a cornerstone of the Chicago Cubs franchise and has received recognition as one of the top catchers in the league.
In the 2022 season, Contreras had a career-best 128 OPS+ – a statistic that measures a player’s on-base percentage and slugging percentage, adjusted for their home ballpark and the league-wide offensive level.
This impressive offensive production begs the question: how good is Willson Contreras? We will analyze his offensive and defensive skills, compare him to other catchers in the league, evaluate his overall value using advanced metrics such as Wins Above Replacement (WAR), and discuss his future outlook.
Offensive Production
OPS+ is a statistic that measures a player’s overall offensive performance, adjusted for their home ballpark and the league-wide offensive level.
It is calculated by taking a player’s OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) and comparing it to the league average OPS for that season. An OPS+ of 100 is exactly league average, while anything above 100 is better than average and anything below 100 is worse than average.
In the 2022 season, Contreras had a career-best OPS+ of 128, which is an impressive mark. He had a slash line of .276/.369/.486 with 26 home runs, 82 RBIs, and 88 runs scored.
This performance helped him earn his second All-Star selection and showed that he continues to improve as a hitter. Over his career, Contreras has a OPS+ of 112, which is well above average and suggests that he has been one of the best offensive catchers in the league during his tenure.
When compared to other catchers in the league, Contreras ranks near the top in terms of offensive production. In the 2022 season, only one catcher, JT Realmuto, had a higher OPS+ than Contreras among qualified catchers.
Over the past few seasons, Realmuto and Contreras have been the most consistent offensive threats among catchers. However, when looking at career OPS+, Contreras is also in conversation with other elite catchers such as Salvador Perez and Yasmani Grandal.
While there are other catchers who may have had a better individual season or two, Contreras’ consistency and sustained success make him one of the best offensive catchers in the league.
Defensive Skills
Contreras is known for being a strong defensive catcher, with a well-rounded set of skills. He has a reputation for being a vocal and commanding presence behind the plate, able to work well with his pitching staff and call a good game.
He also has good athleticism and quick reflexes, allowing him to make difficult plays. In terms of specific defensive skills, Contreras is a strong pitch framer, able to receive borderline pitches and make them look like strikes.
He also has a strong throwing arm, allowing him to control the running game by throwing out baserunners attempting to steal. Finally, he is a solid blocker, able to keep balls in front of him and prevent runners from advancing on passed balls and wild pitches.
When compared to other catchers in the league, Contreras is generally regarded as one of the better defensive catchers. While he may not have the same reputation as some other catchers for his pitch framing, he is still considered above average in this area.
His strong throwing arm is one of his biggest strengths, with only a few catchers in the league considered to have a stronger arm.
Overall, when taking into account his all-around defensive skills, Contreras is considered to be one of the better defensive catchers in the league, with a skill set that is well-rounded and consistent.
Overall Value
Wins Above Replacement (WAR) is a statistic that attempts to measure a player’s overall value to their team, taking into account their offensive and defensive performance, as well as their position and playing time.
It calculates how many wins a player is worth compared to a replacement-level player – that is, a hypothetical player who could be easily acquired from a team’s minor league system or free agency.
WAR is a useful tool for evaluating players because it allows us to compare players at different positions and on different teams, and gives a more complete picture of a player’s overall impact on their team.
Over his career, Contreras has accumulated a WAR of 18.8, according to Baseball-Reference.com. This indicates that he has been worth nearly 19 wins above replacement level during his time in the league. This is an impressive total, especially considering that he has only been in the league for a relatively short time.
When compared to other catchers in the league, Contreras ranks near the top in terms of career WAR. Among active catchers, only Buster Posey, Yadier Molina, and Salvador Perez have accumulated more WAR over their careers.
While WAR is not the only measure of a player’s value, it is a useful tool for comparing players in the same position and gives a good indication of Contreras’ impact on the Cubs.
Overall, Contreras has proven to be a valuable player for the Cubs, both offensively and defensively. His consistent offensive production and strong defensive skills make him one of the best catchers in the league.
When taking into account his overall value, as measured by his WAR, he is considered to be one of the top catchers in the league and a key contributor to the Cubs’ success.
Future Outlook
Contreras is currently 30 years old and under contract with the Cubs through the 2022 season. He will be eligible for free agency after the 2022 season, which means that his future with the team is somewhat uncertain.
In terms of future performance, Contreras has shown that he is a consistent performer on both offense and defense. However, as he enters his 30s, there may be some decline in his physical abilities.
Additionally, his future performance will depend on his health and playing time. If he is able to stay healthy and continue to receive regular playing time, he should be able to continue to perform at a high level.
Based on his past performance and age, it is reasonable to expect him to remain one of the top catchers in the league for the next few years.
When compared to other catchers in the league, Contreras is still relatively young and has several years of prime performance ahead of him.
Players like Yadier Molina and Buster Posey have been able to maintain their performance well into their 30s, and there is no reason to believe that Contreras can’t do the same.
That being said, there are several other young catchers in the league who are also performing at a high level, such as J.T. Realmuto and Salvador Perez, who may challenge Contreras for the title of best catcher in the league in the coming years.
Overall, Contreras has a bright future ahead of him and should continue to be a top performer in the catcher position.
However, his future with the Cubs beyond the 2022 season is uncertain, and it remains to be seen where he will end up and how he will continue to perform as he enters his 30s.
Here is a Table Comparing Willson Contreras’ Career Statistics to Those of Some Other Top Catchers in the League:
| Player | Career OPS+ | Career WAR |
|---|---|---|
| Willson Contreras | 117 | 15.5 |
| J.T. Realmuto | 110 | 30.5 |
| Salvador Perez | 103 | 27.3 |
| Yasmani Grandal | 119 | 22.5 |
| Buster Posey | 129 | 46.5 |
As you can see, Contreras’ OPS+ and WAR compare favorably to other top catchers in the league, such as J.T. Realmuto and Salvador Perez. However, he still has some ground to make up if he wants to match the career accomplishments of players like Buster Posey.
This table provides a useful snapshot of how Contreras stacks up against some of the best catchers in the league in terms of his overall value to his team.
FAQs
How does Willson Contreras compare to other catchers in terms of his offensive and defensive abilities?
While Contreras is widely regarded as one of the top catchers in the league, his specific ranking among other catchers varies depending on who you ask. However, in general, he is seen as a well-rounded player who excels both offensively and defensively.
How has Contreras’ performance changed over the course of his career?
Contreras has been a consistent performer throughout his career, but he has also continued to improve and develop as a player. For example, his OPS+ has steadily increased over the years, and he has also made strides in his pitch framing and blocking abilities.
What is Contreras’ relationship with the Cubs organization like?
Contreras has expressed strong loyalty to the Cubs organization and has stated that he would like to remain with the team for the long term. However, his contract situation means that his future with the team beyond the 2022 season is uncertain.
How does Contreras’ performance compare to that of other Cubs catchers from the past?
While Contreras has only been with the Cubs for a few years, he has already established himself as one of the team’s best catchers in recent memory. He has drawn favorable comparisons to former Cubs catcher Yadier Molina, who is widely regarded as one of the best catchers in MLB history.
What is the outlook for Contreras’ potential for winning individual awards, such as the MVP or Gold Glove?
Contreras has already been named an All-Star and a Silver Slugger award winner in his career, and he has the potential to win more individual awards in the future. However, the catcher position is a challenging one in terms of individual awards, as there are fewer opportunities for catchers to stand out compared to other positions.
Nonetheless, if Contreras continues to perform at a high level, he could certainly be in the conversation for future MVP or Gold Glove awards.
Conclusion
Willson Contreras is one of the best catchers in the league today. He has proven himself to be a consistent offensive performer, with a career OPS+ that compares favorably to other top catchers in the league.
He also has strong defensive skills, with an above-average throwing arm and solid pitch framing and blocking abilities.
When taking into account his overall value, as measured by his WAR, Contreras has proven to be an invaluable contributor to the Cubs’ success. He is a key part of the team’s lineup and is widely regarded as one of the best catchers in the league.
Looking ahead, Contreras’ future with the Cubs is uncertain beyond the 2022 season, but he has several years of prime performance left in him.
If he is able to stay healthy and continue to receive regular playing time, he should be able to continue to perform at a high level and remain one of the top catchers in the league for years to come.
