Despite being offered a high-priced qualifying offer, Chicago Cubs All-Star catcher Willson Contreras will become a free agent in the 2023 offseason. Contreras is coming off the best season of his career, where he was an offensive threat and a defensive stalwart behind home plate. Now, as it seems his time in Chicago has come to an end, he will likely have no shortage of suitors.This is a bitter pill to swallow for Cubs fans, since Contreras was one of the last remaining pieces of the 2016 World Series team. Not only is he still a great player, there is a sentimental connection being severed as well. However, that is how the MLB works, even if it never gets easier for fans to deal with.Jon Heyman reported on Willson Contreras' pending free agency via Twitter.Jon Heyman@JonHeymanCubs are extending the $19.65M qualifying offer to Willson Contreras, and he is declining it, making him a free agent. Very good two-way catcher should do extremely well on the open market.1480182Cubs are extending the $19.65M qualifying offer to Willson Contreras, and he is declining it, making him a free agent. Very good two-way catcher should do extremely well on the open market.The Chocago Cubs clearly have an interest in retaining Contreras. There is still some hope of a reunion. Unfortunately, many believe he would have accepted the qualifying offer if he intended to stay with the Cubs. This outcome has been predicted for some time, but still hits many fans hard.Greg McManus@gregmclnkThe Willson era is over. Very disappointed. twitter.com/JonHeyman/stat…Jon Heyman@JonHeymanCubs are extending the $19.65M qualifying offer to Willson Contreras, and he is declining it, making him a free agent. Very good two-way catcher should do extremely well on the open market.2183Cubs are extending the $19.65M qualifying offer to Willson Contreras, and he is declining it, making him a free agent. Very good two-way catcher should do extremely well on the open market.The Willson era is over. Very disappointed. twitter.com/JonHeyman/stat…I’m A Beacon Of Light@FrickeStyleSo long, Willy. I hate to see you go. twitter.com/jonheyman/stat…Jon Heyman@JonHeymanCubs are extending the $19.65M qualifying offer to Willson Contreras, and he is declining it, making him a free agent. Very good two-way catcher should do extremely well on the open market.1498183Cubs are extending the $19.65M qualifying offer to Willson Contreras, and he is declining it, making him a free agent. Very good two-way catcher should do extremely well on the open market.So long, Willy. I hate to see you go. twitter.com/jonheyman/stat… https://t.co/dhBWpZcEUOTim Tredwell@TimTredwellWelp, I hate this twitter.com/jonheyman/stat…Jon Heyman@JonHeymanCubs are extending the $19.65M qualifying offer to Willson Contreras, and he is declining it, making him a free agent. Very good two-way catcher should do extremely well on the open market.1498183Cubs are extending the $19.65M qualifying offer to Willson Contreras, and he is declining it, making him a free agent. Very good two-way catcher should do extremely well on the open market.Welp, I hate this 😢 twitter.com/jonheyman/stat…The Chicago Cubs are coming off a very disappointing 2022 season, and this loss compounds their issues. They struggled to find any consistency and missed the playoffs yet again. Now, they will be losing both a locker room leader and one of their top on-field players. This will not be an easy loss to overcome, and their fans are well aware of that.Dave Ahlman@daveahlmanExtremely disappointed in the @Cubs here. I won’t buy a “we tried” excuse. #GoodLuckWillson twitter.com/jonheyman/stat…Jon Heyman@JonHeymanCubs are extending the $19.65M qualifying offer to Willson Contreras, and he is declining it, making him a free agent. Very good two-way catcher should do extremely well on the open market.1515184Cubs are extending the $19.65M qualifying offer to Willson Contreras, and he is declining it, making him a free agent. Very good two-way catcher should do extremely well on the open market.Extremely disappointed in the @Cubs here. I won’t buy a “we tried” excuse. #GoodLuckWillson twitter.com/jonheyman/stat…Crawly's Cubs Kingdom@crawlyscubsNo surprise. Willson Contreras earned the right to get that big contract. #Cubs twitter.com/jonheyman/stat…Jon Heyman@JonHeymanCubs are extending the $19.65M qualifying offer to Willson Contreras, and he is declining it, making him a free agent. Very good two-way catcher should do extremely well on the open market.3184Cubs are extending the $19.65M qualifying offer to Willson Contreras, and he is declining it, making him a free agent. Very good two-way catcher should do extremely well on the open market.No surprise. Willson Contreras earned the right to get that big contract. #Cubs twitter.com/jonheyman/stat…Justin@And3rson710Damnnn there gos the last piece of our World Series team :((( so damn sad twitter.com/jonheyman/stat…Jon Heyman@JonHeymanCubs are extending the $19.65M qualifying offer to Willson Contreras, and he is declining it, making him a free agent. Very good two-way catcher should do extremely well on the open market.1516184Cubs are extending the $19.65M qualifying offer to Willson Contreras, and he is declining it, making him a free agent. Very good two-way catcher should do extremely well on the open market.Damnnn there gos the last piece of our World Series team :((( so damn sad twitter.com/jonheyman/stat…Of course, it did not take long for fans of catcher-needy teams to come out of the woodwork. While obvious suitors like the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox were accounted for, there is no shortage of potential homes for the free agent catcher.Ghost in Pain@robbiesebastiaohey lol @Yankees twitter.com/jonheyman/stat…Jon Heyman@JonHeymanCubs are extending the $19.65M qualifying offer to Willson Contreras, and he is declining it, making him a free agent. Very good two-way catcher should do extremely well on the open market.1562186Cubs are extending the $19.65M qualifying offer to Willson Contreras, and he is declining it, making him a free agent. Very good two-way catcher should do extremely well on the open market.hey lol @Yankees twitter.com/jonheyman/stat…Optimus Prime@thekidschmidtHey Boston, another great player to go out and get this off-season. twitter.com/jonheyman/stat…Jon Heyman@JonHeymanCubs are extending the $19.65M qualifying offer to Willson Contreras, and he is declining it, making him a free agent. Very good two-way catcher should do extremely well on the open market.1562186Cubs are extending the $19.65M qualifying offer to Willson Contreras, and he is declining it, making him a free agent. Very good two-way catcher should do extremely well on the open market.Hey Boston, another great player to go out and get this off-season. twitter.com/jonheyman/stat…mike vrabel’s mustache@SunsTitans123Willson Contreras, YOU are a St. Louis Cardinal twitter.com/jonheyman/stat…Jon Heyman@JonHeymanCubs are extending the $19.65M qualifying offer to Willson Contreras, and he is declining it, making him a free agent. Very good two-way catcher should do extremely well on the open market.15621Cubs are extending the $19.65M qualifying offer to Willson Contreras, and he is declining it, making him a free agent. Very good two-way catcher should do extremely well on the open market.Willson Contreras, YOU are a St. Louis Cardinal twitter.com/jonheyman/stat…The loss of Willson Contreras will need to be addressed by the Chicago Cubs this offseason.The Chicago Cubs are surrounded by questions heading into the 2022 offseasonArizona Diamondbacks v Chicago CubsThe Cubs ended the 2022 season 14 games below .500 and were well outside the playoff chase. For a team with such a strong history and tradition, this is a disappointing result. Unfortunately, the team has many holes that need to be filled.Whether it be in the dugout or the bullpen, the Chicago Cubs need to improve. While it may be difficult to lure star players out of free agency, they can take this offseason to build their depth. It may not be flashy, but it could generate the long-term success their fans long for.