By pretty much every measure, Willson Contreras is an above-average offensive performer. His season and career numbers are all very solid, particularly when compared to his peers behind the plate. But it’s impossible for anyone who’s watched the hard-charging backstop recently to come away believing this is the same player who was garnering MVP chatter heading into the season.
Now before I go further, I want to make very clear that this is not a hit piece in any way, shape, or form. I am drawing no conclusions as to Contreras’s long-term value, nor am indicting his past performance.