Cubs, Catcher Carson Kelly ‘Making Progress’ on Deal

The Cubs went into the offseason needing to upgrade their depth at catcher and there’s really only one obvious option left after Kyle Higashioka and Danny Jansen signed elsewhere. That would be Carson Kelly, with whom multiple outlets have reported the Cubs are close to signing. Projections for the 30-year-old backstop have him getting two years at the $7-9 million AAV range, though he may have a little leverage at this point.

Kelly was tied for 12th with 21 runners caught stealing last season, but everyone with a higher number logged at least 93 more innings behind the plate. That defense will help to offset his career 85 wRC+, though he did post a 99 last season en route to 1.8 fWAR. Along…