Fantasy News

• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Hits bench Wednesday

  Rotowire Apr 24, 2024

  Amaya is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros. Though he'll give way to Yan Gomes behind the dish Wednesday, Amaya seems to have edged ahead of the veteran on the depth chart at catcher. Amaya started in four of the previous five games and owns a 302-point edge in OPS over Gomes for the season (.772 to .470).

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Returns to bench Wednesday

  Rotowire Apr 17, 2024

  Amaya is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks. Amaya will head to the bench after he started at catcher over the past two games while going 3-for-8 with two extra-base knocks, two RBI and one run. Yan Gomes will be behind the dish Wednesday, but he and Amaya look poised to operate in a timeshare for the foreseeable future.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Hits first 2024 home run

  Rotowire Apr 14, 2024

  Amaya went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 4-1 win against Seattle. Amaya hit his first home run of the season in the eighth inning, giving the Cubs some extra breathing room in the victory. The 25-year-old has now appeared in eight games this year, with Yan Gomes making nine appearances. The two should continue to split playing time fairly evenly behind the plate, with Gomes slotted in as the de facto starter. However, the veteran is struggling with a .174 batting average and .522 OPS to date, so Amaya could push for a larger role if he produces at the plate.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Workload picking up

  Rotowire Apr 3, 2024

  Amaya will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Rockies. Heading into the regular season, Amaya looked to be the Cubs' clear No. 2 catcher, but he's operated in more of a timeshare with Yan Gomes behind the plate. The two backstops have now made three starts apiece over the Cubs' first six games, with all three of Amaya's starts coming within the last four of those contests. The 25-year-old will likely need to capture a larger role before becoming a more viable roster option in mixed leagues that start just one catcher, but he might be a worthy pickup in two-catcher leagues or NL-only leagues based on how frequently he's been playing early on this season.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Gets start Wednesday

  Rotowire Sep 6, 2023

  Amaya is in the Cubs' lineup Wednesday against the Giants. Amaya will start at catcher and bat ninth with Yan Gomes getting a day off. The backup catcher has not tallied a hit in his last five games with a plate appearance, going 0-for-16.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Enters lineup Sunday

  Rotowire Sep 3, 2023

  Amaya is starting at catcher and batting ninth in Sunday's game against the Reds. With Yan Gomes getting a day off, Amaya will enter the lineup for the second time in the last three days. The Cubs did have a doubleheader Friday, otherwise Amaya likely wouldn't have seen the lineup as frequently to begin the month. As long as Chicago remains in the playoff race, the team figures to ride the veteran Gomes, which will keep Amaya on the bench most days.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Homers in win Sunday

  Rotowire Aug 20, 2023

  Amaya went 1-for-2 with a walk and a solo home run in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Royals. Amaya saw his first playing time in a week and made the most of it, blasting his fourth home run of the season in the eighth inning, which ended up being the deciding run. With the Cubs in the thick of a pennant race, veteran catcher Yan Gomes will likely see the bulk of the playing time moving forward, with Amaya capable of producing when called upon. The backup role limits the 24-year-old's fantasy outlook, at least for this year.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Hits second career homer

  Rotowire Jun 16, 2023

  Amaya went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Friday's win over the Orioles. Yan Gomes and Tucker Barnhart remain the Cubs' primary catchers, but manager David Ross has been getting Amaya involved when he can. The rookie has been paired up with Kyle Hendricks the last two times through the rotation and has garnered a few starts at DH against left-handed starters. Amaya's offensive upside has been on display, but as long as Gomes and Barnhart are healthy, he won't get enough at-bats to crack fantasy relevancy in standard leagues.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Another start Wednesday

  Rotowire Jun 7, 2023

  Amaya is starting at catcher Wednesday against the Angels. Yan Gomes and Tucker Barnhart will both ride the pine. Amaya has posted an .857 OPS through his first 29 major-league plate appearances this season with the Cubs and has now started four straight games between catcher and DH.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: In lineup for debut

  Rotowire May 4, 2023

  Amaya is starting at catcher and batting ninth for the Cubs in Thursday's game versus the Nationals, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. It will be the major-league debut for Amaya, who received his first big-league promotion Tuesday. With Yan Gomes (concussion) out indefinitely, Amaya should see the occasional start behind Tucker Barnhart.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Healthy again at Double-A

  Rotowire Apr 12, 2023

  Amaya (foot) has started at catcher in two of Double-A Tennessee's first four games, going 1-for-7 with a solo home run. Amaya didn't make an appearance during the Cubs' Cactus League slate until March 28, but he showed enough improvement in his recovery from the Lisfranc fracture in his left foot that he suffered while playing with the Double-A club last September to avoid a stint on the injured list to open the 2023 campaign. The 23-year-old was limited to serving exclusively as a designated hitter in 2022 after he returned from Tommy John surgery, but he looks like he'll be able to play catcher on a full-time basis this season.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Nearing spring debut

  Rotowire Mar 6, 2023

  Amaya (foot) took reps at catcher and hit during a simulated game Saturday and could make his Cactus League debut in the near future, LaMond Pope and Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. Amaya looks to be nearing the finish line in his recovery from the Lisfranc fracture he sustained to his left foot while playing at Double-A Tennessee in mid-September. The 23-year-old backstop, who had already missed the first three months of the season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, served exclusively as a designated hitter for Tennessee but was expected to be ready to handle reps behind the plate in the Arizona Fall League had the foot injury not nixed those plans. Amaya said that he felt comfortable while making throws behind the plate Saturday, and his foot presented no complications while he was hitting. Once he makes his spring debut, Amaya should be in the clear for the start of the minor-league season in early April.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Missing out on Fall League

  Rotowire Oct 10, 2022

  Amaya isn't participating in the Arizona Fall League after he suffered a Lisfranc fracture in his left foot while playing for Double-A Tennessee in September, Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic report. Tennessee's season concluded Sept. 28, but Amaya didn't see any action for the club after Sept. 11 due to the injury. The 23-year-old had already gotten off to a delayed start to the 2022 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery last November, and he served exclusively as a designated hitter with Tennessee and the Cubs' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate once he was cleared for game action July 1. Amaya's surgically repaired throwing elbow was expected to be fully healed in time for him to catch in games during the Arizona Fall League, but the foot injury will end up costing him some valuable reps. Amaya, who was recently tendered a contract for the 2023 season and will remain on the Cubs' 40-man roster, is expected to be fully cleared for spring training, but he won't be a serious candidate to win an Opening Day role with the big club.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Won't catch this season

  Rotowire Apr 12, 2022

  Amaya (elbow) won't catch this season, but he may be able to DH by midsummer, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports. He had Tommy John surgery in November, which is why he won't be catching. However, as a position player, he won't require the typical 14-to-16 months to return to game action. He should be a full go as a catcher in 2023.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Sidelined by injury

  Rotowire Jun 30, 2021

  Amaya (undisclosed) is on the 7-day injured list at Double-A Tennessee, Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The specifics of the issue remain unclear, though the young catcher has been on the shelf since early June. Amaya was hitting .215/.406/.304 with one homer, four doubles, 13 RBI, 11 runs and two stolen bases in 23 games for the Smokies prior to the injury.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Not on Opening Day roster

  Rotowire Jul 23, 2020

  Amaya was not included on the Cubs' 30-man Opening Day roster. This isn't a huge surprise, as Amaya has yet to appear above High-A. The 21-year-old will spend the 2020 season working on his development at the team's alternate site in South Bend, and he remains in the Cubs' future plans behind the plate.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Added to player pool

  Rotowire Jul 1, 2020

  Amaya will be a part of the Cubs' 60-man player pool and participate in summer camp in South Bend. Amaya will be joined by 10 other players in South Bend, a group that will likely focus on development while MLB regulars train at Wrigley Field. The 21-year-old hasn't appeared above High-A and consequently isn't likely to make his way to the majors this season, but he could enhance his prospect stock if he looks good in camp.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Could begin season at Double-A

  Rotowire Feb 15, 2020

  Amaya, who is in his first big-league camp this year, could start the season with Double-A Tennessee, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. The 20-year-old catcher is getting his first taste of the MLB level this spring, but the Cubs are in no rush to make him their everyday backstop with Willson Contreras around. Amaya spent 2019 at High-A Myrtle Beach and had a .235/.351/.402 slash line with 11 home runs and 24 doubles in 99 games.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Added to 40-man roster

  Rotowire Nov 20, 2019

  Amaya was added to the 40-man roster by the Cubs on Wednesday. The 20-year-old signed as a glove-first catcher in 2015 but has performed well enough to warrant protection from the Rule 5 draft. Amaya spent 2019 at High-A Myrtle Beach and had a .235/.351/.402 slash line with 11 home runs and 24 doubles in 99 games.

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