The Tampa Bay Rays are in the mix, along with the New York Mets, for Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras, according to sources. Contreras is a possible fallback option for the San Diego Padres, too, if they cannot land Washington Nationals superstar outfielder Juan Soto. The rebuilding Cubs are almost certain to deal Contreras before Tuesday's deadline, but the Mets may now have competition for his services. The 30-year-old backstop made his third All-Star team this year and is currently hitting .252/.365/.453 with an .818 OPS, 14 home runs, 38 RBI, 51 runs scored and even three stolen bases in 86 games. Contreras will really help a contending team both offensively and defensively if he's brought on board.

The San Diego Padres reportedly are interested in trading for Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras. According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Padres are involved in conversations about Cubs catcher Willson Contreras. He recently removed everything Cubs-related from his Instagram account. The 30-year-old is one of the best hitting catchers in the game and should produce for a solid Padres lineup that is expected to have star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. (wrist) back soon. Contreras is slashing .252/.369/.460 with 14 home runs, 37 RBI, 52 runs scored, and three stolen bases over 366 plate appearances in 2022. Stay tuned.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras has removed everything Cubs-related from his Instagram account. Contreras has been mentioned as a trade candidate all year, and with the deadline coming next Tuesday, there's a chance he's played his last game in a Cubs uniform. The New York Mets have been linked heavily to Contreras with James McCann still sidelined due to injury. They're currently rolling with Tomas Nido and Patrick Mazeika behind the plate. If Contreras is dealt before Tuesday, Yan Gomes would become Chicago's primary catcher. Contreras, who made the All-Star team for the third time in his career, is one of the best hitting catchers in the game and would receive a fantasy boost with a move to a contender like the Mets. Stay tuned.

According to an article from Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation, the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets reportedly "have had ongoing discussions about a potential trade package for catcher Willson Contreras and relief pitcher David Robertson that would see New York send multiple top prospects to Chicago." Contreras has, so far, enjoyed a strong season at the plate, batting .258 with a .374 on-base percentage, 14 home runs, and three stolen bases in 353 plate appearances. Meanwhile, Robertson has pitched to a 1.83 ERA, a 3.25 FIP, 50 strikeouts, 19 walks, and 14 saves in 39.1 innings spanning 35 appearances for the Cubs.

The Chicago Cubs have not yet offered catcher Willson Contreras a contract extension, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Contreras has stated that he would "love to stay" with the Cubs, but he is set to become a free agent after this season, so it's beginning to look increasingly likely that he'll have a new home by 2023, if not sooner. The 30-year-old has spent the entirety of his seven-year MLB career with the Cubs. Over 78 games this year, he's slashing .253/.366/.455 with 13 home runs, 35 RBI and 48 runs.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (hamstring) is not in the starting lineup on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers. Fantasy managers should consider Contreras day-to-day for now after he left Monday's game early with a hamstring injury. When on the field, the 30-year-old has been a must-start, as he's slashing .274/.392/.498 with an .890 OPS, 13 home runs, 35 RBI, 46 runs scored and even three stolen bases in 259 at-bats at the weakest position in fantasy. Yan Gomes is doing the catching on Tuesday and will hit seventh against Brewers right-hander Jason Alexander. Gomes is a low-upside DFS option who has one hit in his last 18 at-bats. He's hitting just .214/.231/.321 with three home runs and nine RBI on the season in 43 games.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (hamstring) was removed in the 10th inning of Monday's loss against the Milwaukee Brewers due to hamstring tightness. He went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts before leaving. The 30-year-old is considered day-to-day and will be evaluated on Tuesday. He is slashing .274/.392/.498 with 13 home runs, 35 RBI, and 46 runs across 71 games in 2022. Contreras was replaced in the extra-innings by P.J. Higgins. The 29-year-old would see an uptick in plate appearances if Contreras is forced to miss any time. Stay tuned.

While Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras doesn't appear to be a trade fit for the Houston Astros -- they revere the defensive work of Martin Maldonado -- he would make particular sense for the San Francisco Giants, who recently demoted Joey Bart. Curt Casali has never played 90 games in a major league season, and the Giants have already plucked two catchers from other teams' Triple-A rosters. The San Diego Padres, New York Mets and perhaps Tampa Bay Rays could emerge as suitors for Contreras as the trade deadline nears. Contreras is a high-end fantasy catcher and is hitting .267/.394/.506 with a .900 OPS, 10 home runs, 23 RBI, 35 runs scored and two stolen bases, and he could become even more attractive if he's traded to a new team this summer.

The Chicago Cubs and catcher Willson Contreras avoided salary arbitration on Thursday by agreeing to a $9.625 million salary for the 2022 season, according to a source. Contreras was asking for $10.25 million, while the Cubs had countered at $9 million. Contreras was scheduled for an arbitration hearing on Thursday, but the two sides will avoid that. The 30-year-old backstop has boosted his trade value as we approach the late-July deadline by hitting a strong .277/.403/.530 with a .933 OPS, 10 home runs, 23 RBI, 35 runs scored and two stolen bases in 166 at-bats this year. Contreras is one of the best catching options in fantasy and could receive a boost in value in the second half if he's dealt to a contender.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) returned to the lineup on Saturday after missing the previous contest. The 30-year-old catcher played in both games of Saturday's doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals. He went 2-for-9 with an RBI double in his return. Contreras is hitting .275/.396/.519 with nine homers, 22 RBI this season. Fantasy managers can feel comfortable putting Contreras back in their lineups. The ankle issue is behind him and Contreras should be one of the bigger names available at the trade deadline this season.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) is back behind the plate catching and is hitting second on Saturday in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander Johan Oviedo. Contreras missed the game on Thursday but is back behind the dish. Fantasy managers will want to get him back into their lineups. Before his injury, the 30-year-old backstop had an eight-game hitting streak in which he hit .367 with four home runs, two doubles, seven RBI, eight runs and a stolen base. Overall, Contreras is slashing .278/.401/.530 with a .931 OPS, nine home runs, 21 RBI, 32 runs scored and two stolen bases in 151 at-bats as one of the best hitting catchers in fantasy.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) was forced to exit early during Thursday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. He was hit by a pitch during the eighth inning and came out of the contest as a precaution. The X-rays on his ankle came back negative, so Contreras isn't expected to need a trip to the injured list. However, Contreras is out of the starting lineup for Friday's game. P.J. Higgins will draw the start behind the plate and bat seventh versus righty Miles Mikolas. Fantasy managers will hopefully have Contreras back in their lineups at some point during this weekend series.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (hamstring) is set to make his return in Thursday's day game against the Cincinnati Reds. He will be batting second and playing catcher in the game. Contreras was held out of each of the team's last four games due to a strained right hamstring. It's especially encouraging to see that the team is placing him behind the plate for the game, rather than utilizing him as a designated hitter. Contreras has been one of the best catchers in fantasy so far this year. Over 35 games, he's slashing .256/.379/.455 with five home runs, 14 RBI and 24 runs.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (hamstring) remains out of the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds. It will be Contreras' fourth straight game on the bench due to a strained right hamstring. With fellow backstop Yan Gomes (oblique) going on the injured list, P.J. Higgins will do the catching and hit eighth on Wednesday against Reds right-hander Luis Castillo. Cubs skipper David Ross has expressed confidence that Contreras will avoid a stint on the injured list, so fantasy managers hopefully will get him back in their lineups this weekend. The 30-year-old is hitting .258/.382/.458 with an .840 OPS, five home runs, 14 RBI, 24 runs scored and a stolen base in 34 games played.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (hamstring) is out of the starting lineup again on Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds. Contreras will miss his third straight game after suffering a right hamstring strain on Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The good news is that manager David Ross doesn't think Contreras will go on the injured list. Yan Gomes is the designated hitter and is batting fifth, while P.J. Higgins does the catching and is hits eighth on Tuesday against Reds right-hander Tyler Mahle. Contreras is an everyday fantasy catcher when he's healthy, and he's hitting .258/.382/.458 with an .840 OPS, five home runs, 14 RBI, 24 runs scored and a stolen base in 34 games this year. Hopefully he'll be back in the lineup at some point this week.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (hamstring) remains out of the starting lineup on Monday against the Cincinnati Reds. Contreras strained his right hamstring on Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks and is currently considered day-to-day. Yan Gomes is doing the catching and is batting fifth on Monday against Reds right-hander Vladimir Gutierrez. Contreras is a must-start in fantasy when he's on the field, as he's hitting .258/.382/.458 with an .840 OPS, five home runs, 14 RBI, 24 runs scored and a stolen base in 34 games so far this year. Gomes won't be a bad low-cost catching option in DFS in the five-hole. He's hitting .261 on the year with two homers and seven RBI in 71 plate appearances.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (hamstring) is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Contreras exited Saturday's game due to right hamstring tightness and he is being considered day-to-day. P.J. Higgins will be the team's starting catcher on Sunday and Frank Schwindel will be the designated hitter. Contreras has been about as good as any catcher in the game so far this year from a fantasy perspective. Over 34 games, he's slashing .258/.382/.458 with five home runs, 14 RBI and 24 runs.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (mid-body) is back in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Chicago White Sox. He will be batting out of the cleanup spot. Contreras missed each of the last two games due to what has been called a mid-body issue. The 29-year-old is currently slashing .250/.354/.426 over 18 games on the season. He's racked up two home runs, seven RBI and 13 runs.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras is out of the starting lineup for the second straight game on Tuesday. Yan Gomes is getting his second consecutive start behind the plate for the game. Prior to Tuesday's game, Cubs manager David Ross stated that Contreras was day-to-day and said that he was dealing with an undisclosed issue. Ross added that he couldn't get into specifics regarding Contreras due to "competitive" reasons, but he also said that Contreras was available off the bench for the game. While this update from Ross is certainly about as cryptic as it gets, the good news is that it sounds like Contreras won't be out much longer due to Ross's day-to-day designation.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against Drew Rasmussen and the Tampa Bay Rays. The team is going with Yan Gomes behind the plate. Gomes will be batting eighth in the game. Contreras went 0-for-7 with a walk in the first two games of the series. However, he's off to a solid start to the year as a whole. Over nine games, he's hit two home runs and three doubles while posting an .811 OPS. We should see him back out on the field on Thursday, when the team opens up a four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.