After designating veteran catcher Yan Gomes for assignment this week, the Chicago Cubs quickly replaced him by signing catcher Tomas Nido to a major league contract. This move followed the New York Mets’ decision to designate Nido for assignment after activating Francisco Alvarez from the injured list, where he had been recovering from a torn thumb ligament for six weeks.
**Cubs Sign Backup Catcher; Set To Debut Against Former Team**
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Nido’s playing time with the Mets had diminished in recent weeks due to Alvarez’s return and the emergence of Luis Torrens, whom the Mets acquired from the Yankees. Nido is expected to make his Cubs debut at Wrigley Field this weekend, facing his former team.
Starting his tenure with the Cubs against the club that drafted him 12 years ago, Nido, an eighth-round pick by the Mets in 2012, made his MLB debut in 2017. Known for his strong arm and unique batting style without gloves, Nido was a finalist for the National League Gold Glove in 2022. During his nearly seven-year stint with the Mets, he played in 96 games, starting 86 of them.
**What Will Nido Bring to the Cubs?**
While Nido does not have a strong offensive record, with a career batting average of .214 and 14 home runs over eight seasons, the Cubs are hopeful that his defensive skills will benefit their elite pitching staff. Nido joins a team with notable pitchers like Javier Assad, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, and Japanese phenom Shota Imanaga. During his time with the Mets, Nido caught for elite pitchers such as Jacob deGrom, Zack Wheeler, Kodai Senga, Noah Syndergaard, Max Scherzer, and Justin Verlander.
The key storyline in Nido signing with the Cubs is his likely debut against the Mets this weekend. While his time in Flushing Queens didn’t meet his expectations, Nido is certainly looking forward to facing his former team.
