"Reese McGuire filled in admirably for the injured Miguel Amaya, hitting a career-high nine home runs over 140 plate appearances as Carson Kelly 's backup. That wasn't nearly enough to entice the Cubs to tender him a contract at anything approaching his $1.9 million projection, so they told him to beat it. Or, more accurately, they simply chose not to tender him a contract for the 2026 season."
"The No. 14 overall pick by the Pirates in 2013 out of Kentwood High School, McGuire progressed to Double-A in Pittsburgh's system before being traded to the Blue Jays. He debuted in 2018 and saw sporadic playing time over the next four seasons, logging a career-best 274 plate appearances in 2022 between the Jays and White Sox. He changed his hose to red for two seasons, then caught on with the Cubs last year."
"Even though he's only accumulated a little over five years of service time over parts of eight seasons, McGuire has put up positive WAR in all but one season. He'll never live up to the promise of his draft spot, but he won't turn 31 until March and should be able to hang around for a few more years as a journeyman. The only problem is that he's always going to be in danger of getting whacked because he's always going to be a backup."
Reese McGuire served as Carson Kelly's backup, hitting a career-high nine home runs in 140 plate appearances after Miguel Amaya's injury, yet the Cubs declined to tender him a contract for 2026 despite a $1.9 million projection. McGuire, the No. 14 overall pick in 2013, progressed through Pittsburgh's system, debuted in 2018, and reached 274 plate appearances in 2022 before joining the Cubs. He has produced positive WAR in most seasons and projects as a journeyman backstop, but recurring backup status leaves him vulnerable to non-tender moves. The Cubs tendered reliever Eli Morgan, preserving control while he recovers from an elbow injury.
Read at Cubsinsider
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