In a move to bolster their catching depth, the Chicago Cubs have signed veteran catcher Christian Bethancourt to a minor league contract, as confirmed by his transaction log on MLB.com. This signing comes on the heels of Bethancourt’s release by the Miami Marlins last week, marking his ninth MLB organization since debuting with the Atlanta Braves in 2013.
Bethancourt’s MLB journey has been a winding one. Over his first five seasons (2013-17), he struggled to make a significant impact, appearing in 161 games for the Braves and San Diego Padres and posting a .222/.252/.316 slash line with a 52 wRC+. Following a three-year hiatus from the majors (2018-21), during which he bounced between the Brewers, Phillies, and Pirates organizations, and had a brief stint in the KBO in 2019, Bethancourt made a comeback in 2022.
At 30 years old, he returned to the major leagues with the Oakland Athletics, appearing in 56 games. His solid performance caught the attention of the Tampa Bay Rays, who acquired him ahead of the trade deadline. Bethancourt finished the 2022 season with a league-average 100 wRC+ and 1.8 FanGraphs WAR, marking a notable resurgence in his career.
However, Bethancourt’s success was short-lived. Despite making the Rays’ Opening Day roster in 2023 and playing 102 games, his performance dipped, finishing the season with a 74 wRC+. His defensive metrics also saw a decline; after throwing out 13 of 30 would-be base stealers in 2022, he only managed 13 of 57 in 2023. Additionally, his pitch-framing metrics, as tracked by FanGraphs and Baseball Savant, deteriorated.
Traded to the Marlins in the offseason, Bethancourt’s struggles continued into 2024. In 38 games with Miami, he posted a .159/.198/.268 slash line before being designated for assignment in mid-June and subsequently released. Now joining the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, Bethancourt will look to rebound and earn another big league opportunity with Chicago.
The Cubs have struggled to get consistent production from their catchers this season. Only the Marlins’ catchers have a lower OPS and wRC+ than Chicago’s. With Tomás Nido and Miguel Amaya as the only catchers on the Cubs’ 40-man roster, Bethancourt will likely be the next in line for a call-up should the need arise. His veteran presence and experience could provide a much-needed boost for the Cubs as they seek to solidify their catching situation.
