Former Padres Catcher Released by National League Contender

Kevin Skinner | Mar 31, 2024

The Chicago Cubs have released former Padres catcher Jorge Alfaro. Alfaro, 30, played for the Padres in 2022 when they went to the National League Championship Series.

Cubs announce NRI catcher Joe Hudson has been returned to minor league camp, and NRI catcher Jorge Alfaro has been released.

— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) March 25, 2024

Alfaro came up with the Philadelphia Phillies before the Miami Marlins picked him up in 2019. The Padres took a flier on him in 2022 to provide some much-needed help at catcher.

At the time, Aaron Nola was the primary backstop as the club waited for Luis Campusano to be ready. Alfaro and Nola split time at catcher with Alfaro playing in 82 games.

He struggled in the batter’s box with a .667 OPS and striking out 98 times while only walking 11. His arm strength made him valuable behind the dish, even if he did not grade out well as a blocking catcher.

He played for the Colorado Rockies and Boston Red Sox last year. The Cubs signed him as a non-roster invitee this spring, but he did not break camp with the team.

As of right now, he’s a free agent with an unknown market. With catcher being such a physically demanding position, a team could pick him up in the middle of the season if someone suffers an injury.