The Chicago Cubs had a protracted period of difficulties that seemed to never end after they began the season as favorites to win the NL Central.

Everyone was waiting for them to emerge from their rut and begin performing as a group this level ought to for a while. They have been hot in the first part of July, and after a long wait, they finally appear to be the team that many had anticipated them to be.

It remains to be seen if this is a case of too little, too late, but the Cubs have at least given their front staff something to consider before the impending trade deadline.

Chicago leads the NL Central going into the All-Star break, but they are four games below.500 and have a negative run differential. However, after winning seven of their previous ten games, they are just 3.5 games off of the final Wild Card place.

If the management believes that this bunch has turned the corner, the Cubs adding a couple players before July 30 wouldn’t be shocking.

They really need to make upgrades at the catcher position.

Chicago gave Miguel Amaya the starting job going into this season, with Yan Gomes, a veteran, providing backup.

As it happened, that was a disastrous offensive move.
Amaya’s wRC+ and OPS+ are both much lower than the league average of 100, at 54 and 59, respectively. Tomas Nido, who has never been known for his offensive prowess and is 6-for-41 in his 14 games with the Cubs, was forced to be brought in when Gomes was cut due to his poor performance.

Given this, it appears that Jed Hoyer and his team are searching for a significant improvement.

They have “expressed interest” in catcher Danny Jansen, who might be traded given the Toronto Blue Jays’ dismal performance, according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY.
Chicago has long been said to be interested in the 29-year-old, but it was never confirmed if they were indeed trying to sign him. This story suggests that they are discussing the possibility of signing him as a rental for the remainder of the season.

Jansen would be a significant improvement over their existing situation.

He is cutting.223/.316/.391 with 17 RBI, six home runs, a 100 OPS+, and a 103 wRC+. While those aren’t very noteworthy, the fact that this would be the team’s best production thus far indicates how dire the Cubs’ catching position is.

The cost to sign the veteran backstop is unknown, but since he is a rental and only a league average catcher, it shouldn’t be too difficult for Chicago to get him.