The signing of Joe Hudson to a minor-league contract gives the Chicago Cubs another potential option behind the plate.
The Chicago Cubs will look to Joe Hudson to give them some depth and some competition at the catcher position during Spring Training in Mesa, Ariz., this spring.
The Cubs recently signed the veteran catcher, who has played in the Majors since 2020, to a minor-league contract with an MLB Spring Training invite.
Right now, the Cubs have two catchers on their 40-man roster. Veteran Yan Gomes is back for 2024, along with the youngster, Miguel Amaya.
Hudson is overseas getting at-bats with Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League and has already been assigned to Triple-A Iowa.
In 2023 Hudson was with Atlanta’s Triple-A affiliate in Gwinnett. In 69 games he slashed .232/.371/.395/.766 with nine home runs and 37 RBI.
For Hudson to earn a spot on the Cubs’ Opening Day roster he’ll need to improve at the plate and force the Cubs into a situation in which they feel they either need a third catcher or need to make a change with what they have.
Gomez, even at 36, is a better hitter than Hudson. He batted nearly .270 with 10 home runs last season.
As for Amaya, he’s just 24 and batted .214 in 53 games. Hudson may stand a better chance of getting the Cubs to send Amaya back to Triple-A if he has a strong spring.
But Hudson has never been able to stick in the Majors. He has played in just 18 MLB games in his career, dating back to his debut with the Los Angeles Angels in 2018. He spent time with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2019 and the Seattle Mariners in 2020.
Between those three stays at the Majors he batted .167 with an RBI.
After Seattle released him, he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021 and spent the season with the Pirates’ Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis. In 2022 he joined the Tampa Bay Rays and spent the season with Triple-A Durham.
Experience is his best asset. He’s played in 678 minor league games and has 2,174 career at-bats. It is that experience the Cubs might find useful in a pinch.
