Chicago — While many fans were still watching the offseason, a quiet but stirring news broke: The Cubs had just let go of a backup piece — 30-year-old catcher Reese McGuire — by deciding not to renew his contract, sending him into free agency. The news was made official when the team declined to “tender” him before the season’s deadline.
McGuire came to the Cubs in early 2025 on a Minor League contract — a small chance to prove himself. But the reality is harsh: He appeared in just 44 games, with a .226/.245/.444 batting line, nine home runs, and 24 RBIs. Not bad numbers for a backup, but given the Cubs’ projected salary next season—around $2 million, according to estimates from Spotrac—the team decided McGuire was “more expensive than he was worth.”
For McGuire, the Cubs’ opportunity was a reset—from the Red Sox, through years of not playing a starting role, to an unfamiliar team. But 44 games in 2025 was all he had. No impressive hitting streak, no standout defense, and not enough to warrant a move to the organization.
Cubs management, under pressure to balance budgets and reshape the roster for the 2026 season, decided to “non-tender” McGuire—meaning they would not extend his contract, effectively making him a free agent.
That underscores the harsh reality: a solid career isn’t enough—if you don’t show a clear path to excellence. For McGuire, the work was there, and the opportunity was there. But modern baseball doesn’t wait for anyone.
McGuire’s departure was seen as a clear sign that the Cubs are slowly “cleaning up” their depth chart—especially at catcher and the bench. The team seems to want to focus on rejuvenation, cutting costs, and avoiding tying down mediocre players.
But for McGuire, leaving the Cubs doesn’t mean the end of the story. With eight seasons of MLB experience — though mostly as a backup — he could still be an attractive option for teams looking for a replacement catcher, or simply a cheap shot at a starting job next season.
However, he won’t have an easy time finding a suitable home. Many MLB teams are now prioritizing young, long-term catchers over “tried and tested” names like McGuire.
Reese McGuire’s story from early 2025 to now is a reminder that in professional baseball, nothing is guaranteed — especially when you don’t make a clear impact. One opportunity, one contract, a few dozen games — and then, you can still be mercilessly pushed out.
For McGuire, the future may still be open — if he finds a team that trusts him. But for the Cubs, they have chosen to turn around and continue to look for new elements capable of shouldering the fourth/free agency role in the lineup.
And for fans, it’s a moment to reflect: not everyone who makes it to the Majors stays. Sometimes the journey is a brief pause — and the footprints, if too faint, are erased.
The Cubs lost a player — McGuire lost an opportunity. But baseball — it’s still a game of those who aren’t afraid to leave.
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