In search of getting more production out of the catcher’s spot, the Cubs are reevaluating the position.

Tomás Nido drew the start at catcher Saturday for the third straight day.

That’s a departure from the way the Cubs had been doling out playing time with Miguel Amaya typically seeing the lion’s share of starts behind the plate.

The Cubs acquired Nido as a free agent on June 19 after he was released by the New York Mets. The team gave him a couple days to get up to speed with his new squad but since June 22, Nido started 8 of the Cubs’ next 14 games.

Nido and Amaya were essentially switching off each day before this past week.

“We just reached a point for me like, let’s give Miguel some days off to work on some things,” Craig Counsell said before Saturday’s game. “… Trying to get Miguel some time just to work on some things and to just reset a little bit.

“Because offensively, he needs to do better. He knows that and we know that and he’s a better hitter than he’s shown. And so just trying to give him some time down to work on some things.”

Counsell confirmed the Cubs are working with Amaya on his offensive game during this stretch of time.

He responded with a pair of hits – including a double – and an RBI Sunday afternoon.

Amaya has struggled at times defensively, including last Wednesday night when a passed ball led to the Phillies scoring a pair of game-winning runs. His 5 passed balls rank among the league leaders and he has thrown out just 11% of basestealers (6-for-53).

Despite those issues, the Cubs have been impressed with how he has handled the pitching staff and called a game. Pitchers have a strong 3.77 ERA when throwing to Amaya this season.

At the plate, he has taken a step back after a solid rookie season in 2023.

Amaya hit only .214 last year but carried a .329 on-base percentage and a .688 OPS with 5 homers and 18 RBI in 53 games.

This year in 63 games, he is hitting .194 with a .255 OBP and .524 OPS. Amaya has 2 homers and 16 RBI and has been worth -0.3 WAR by FanGraphs’ metric.

Amaya is still only 25 and has not been able to garner much experience over the last few years. He spent several seasons ranking as one of the top prospects in the game but injuries have impacted his development.

Elbow and foot injuries plus the pandemic limited Amaya to only 63 games from 2020-22. And just 12 of those games – 109 innings – came at catcher (he played the entire 2022 season as the DH as he rehabbed from Tommy John surgery.

Amaya played only 28 games in the minors last season as the Cubs initially needed him in the big leagues to cover for injuries and then he played well enough to stick around for the rest of the summer.

Offensively, Amaya has impressed throughout his minor league tenure. He has flashed power – 45 doubles and 23 homers between 2018-19 – and quality on-base skills (.349 OBP in 2018, .351 OBP in ’19). But that hasn’t translated yet to the majors.

As for Nido, the Cubs took a chance on acquiring the veteran in the middle of June, parting ways with Yan Gomes in the process.

Gomes was a popular and well-respected player in the clubhouse but he also struggled both offensively and defensively this season before he was let go.

Nido has always been known more for his glove than his bat. In parts of 8 seasons with the New York Mets, he carried a .214/.251/.313 slash line (.564 OPS) but was always rated well for his work behind the plate.

His overall offensive numbers haven’t been great since coming to Chicago (.133 AVG) but the Cubs are 6-3 in games he starts and he does have a pair of doubles and 3 RBI thus far. On the season, Nido has an expected slugging percentage of .400, suggesting there might be some more left in the tank.

Amaya, meanwhile, only had 2 extra-base hits and 3 RBI in a 32-game stretch from May 18 through July 3 (prior to Sunday’s game).

“We acquired him as a veteran, able to step in quickly,” Counsell said. “I think the new set of eyes and then just contribute offensively and just contribute something. His game is his defense but he’s contributed offensively and and you need a contribution from that spot.”

Defensively, Nido ranks in the 86th percentile in Major League Baseball in caught stealing above average and also rates well in pop time and overall defensive value.

Amaya is out of minor-league options so the Cubs cannot send him back down to Triple-A unless they desginate him for assignment and risk losing him.

The short break was a good option for the Cubs to help get him back on track – especially as they evaluate if he is truly the catcher of the future.