The Cubs and catcher Christian Bethancourt have agreed to a minor league deal, reports Jon Heyman of The New York Post. He would make $1.6MM if in the majors. He’ll presumably be in major league camp in spring training.
Bethancourt, 34, was a Cub in his most recent stint in the big leagues. Chicago rostered him in the second half of the 2024 season. He performed well in a small sample. He took 59 plate appearances in 24 games with a strong .281/.305/.509 batting line in that time.
Since his offense has been very up-and-down in his career, the Cubs presumably didn’t feel that kind of production was sustainable. He could have been retained for 2025 via arbitration, with MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projecting him for a $2.5MM salary. Instead, the Cubs outrighted him off the roster and he elected free agency.
The Blue Jays signed Bethancourt to a minor league deal last offseason. He spent 2025 with Triple-A Buffalo without getting a call up to the majors. Toronto’s catchers stayed relatively healthy this year but Bethancourt also didn’t do himself any favors. As mentioned, his offense has been inconsistent and he hit .173/.219/.332 for the Bisons this year.
Though he’s coming off a down year at the plate, there’s no harm in this deal for the Cubs. They haven’t committed anything and things went well the last time they had Bethancourt around. Their catching situation is also a bit fluid right now. Reese McGuire got a decent amount of playing time in 2025 but he has been non-tendered.
The Cubs still have Carson Kelly, Miguel Amaya and Moisés Ballesteros but there are some questions in that group. Kelly is coming off a good year overall but hit just .218/.278/.318 in the second half. Amaya is still trying to get fully established as a big leaguer but spent most of 2025 on the injured list and only got into 28 games. Ballesteros is a great hitter but there are questions about his defense. Ballesteros is the only one of those three who can be optioned to the minors but the Cubs might want his bat in designated hitter mix in the majors.
Bethancourt gives them a bit of non-roster depth at the Triple-A level. As mentioned, he’s coming off a down year at the plate but he’s a veteran who made his major league debut over a decade ago. He has a decent defensive reputation, though more so for his work controlling the running game than his framing or blocking. If he eventually is added to the roster, he is out of options.
Photo courtesy of Kamil Krzaczynski, Imagn Images
To be fair to Carson Kelly, the Cubs offense tanked after the second half, so he’s not the only one that fell off a cliff. Either way, good depth signing.
Good depth signing? Signing a guy who didn’t play in the major leagues in 2025. Hey how about signing someone who might help you win a game? The Cubs downward spiral has begun. They will not make the playoffs in 2026.
Seems a bit dramatic for a minor league signing…
I agree cubs will make a much bigger signing or trade..this is just how jed operates he for sure has targets he just waiting to see if they can get a deal done..once whoever his top target signs..things will pick up
To be clear i didnt say he will sign his top target just that his target will sign somewhere lol..but he will sign a couple notable players it will be after one of his top targets signs..i think he is probably waiting on imai to see what that will cost if they can lure him
If I’ve learned anything from the interwebz, half the fans don’t realize these clubs have a AAA team they field.
What a tool, you are
Like the Scott Kingery signing, veterans for Iowa and for taking the long bus rides out to Surprise and Goodyear during Spring Training. I won’t be surprised if Bethancourt has an opening day opt-out and I also won’t be surprised if they bring in competition for that #3 catcher in Iowa role. None of the Cubs’ three AA catchers last year had an OPS over .625, so there should be room for two veteran catchers at AAA this year.
Maybe next they’ll resign Tucker.
Maybe Sydney Sweeney will show up at my doorstep with a 6 pack in one hand and a pepperoni pizza in the other, and wearing nothing but a smile.
I think I have the better chance.
I agree.
I would have prefered that they would have kept McGuire over signing Bethancourt.
Maybe McGuire said no thinking he might land a #2 role somewhere…
He was out of options. He would have been DFA because he wasn’t going to be on the active roster.
Jed Hoyer, you are worthless
Why do you say that, CC, with regard to this move specifically? Bethancourt is the 3rd catcher to stash at Iowa and bring up when Amaya gets hurt. They need someone for that role, so isn’t this a reasonable move?
I say that bc Jed has done so little to help the team contend. Granted ownership has tied his hands, the Cubs have the largest differential between revenue taken in and money spent on the club. Before 2025 sifter trading for Tucker Jed said we are all in, he then dumped Bellingers salary for nothing in return, he did nothing at the trade that line saying the plan was to compete in 2025 and seasons to come and he now says we should be able to put a good team on the field. That’s one huge difference. Sure stash guys at Iowa oh boy but how about helping the major league team. The plan was to never resign Tucker and they’re hoping that Ballesteros, Cassie and maybe Alcantara can help replicate some of his production. Jed is misleading and can’t be trusted. He got his extension by being a good soldier to ownership however this team isn’t as good as the 2025 team that burned out from injuries and zero depth. I truly hope he does something but expectations are low
Agree on all points–but signing Bethancourt is not a good example of your points.
Maybe CC wants them to overpay for Realmuto to show what he considers an appropriate amount of desire.
Jed now leading the MLBTR Donkey of the week award again. Slight lead ahead of Brian Cashman in this shortened week
Bethancourt just needs 3 more home runs for his MLB career total to surpass Line #37 on my Baseball spreadsheets, thus making them look more aesthetically pleasing.
I’m rooting for this guy, but for selfish reasons.
Same as every offseason, a few relievers, nobody outfielder and there 3rd catcher, offseason complete and Tommy will still cry poor.
So Tucker was a nobody in 2025?
Then Bellenger was a nobody in 2022?
Add in Shota and Taillon to the pile up
At least complain with accurate
@CFS: Actually, Tucker did turn out to be a nobody, at least relative to expectations. He was oddly un-impactful, rarely got a key hit, generally played pepper with the first baseman or hit fungoes to the centerfielder, pulled up on catchable balls in right field, and seemed annoyed that everyone not named Alex Cohen didn’t bow down to him. Glad he will be someone else’s disappointment next season.
He never wanted to be in Chicago, it was a required stopover while he waited to be over paid
You realize that he was #16 in wRC+ AND #26 in fWAR in a year that he had 2 injuries and created bad habits.
If you want to argue 400M is too much that is fair. Not chrismatic enough to pay. Fine.
Saying that he was useless? Sour grapes and you are being bias because you know that Tom is too cheap to spend.
I have no problem with Ballestroes getting run way at DH. His bat is legit and Jed is not going to give him run way at catcher. So I just don’t see Tucker returning due to he has a quality bat MLB ready.
You really need to do better on the troll vibe. Lacks creativity.
Sigh.
He was more than adequate as minor league depth and a 3rd C the last time he was here. He’s fine. If somebody wants Amaya depending on the return I’d be OK with McGuire coming back as #2 C also. If somebody knocked me over for Amaya it’s a real possibility.
Amaya was injured in the minors that took him out as a prospect and he has a track record of injury since then. His value is not good in a deal due to his injury record and this signing is Jed saying that he don’t trust him either.
Another injury year and he might not get offered Arb at this rate. He has to prove that he can stay on the field before he has any trade value.
No one wants a beater
While it’s true that the best sports ability is Availability I disagree that he has no trade value. Catchers take a beating more than just about any position in any sport (162 games) except maybe RB or Goalie spending time on IL is almost expected. He’s had a few brutal injuries so yeah it’s more than just normal wear and tear. He got injured last year trying to beat out a grounder he had no chance to beat out and stepped funny on 1st base. He just needs to calm down a bit and play the game on cruise control rather than foot on the floor and he’ll be fine. And every team has a guy who has a minor league contract as a C who can be called up in an emergency. The bad part is after the emergency you have to get them through the DFA process.
It is a non headline move that just insures against another Amaya injury case. McGuire was due Arb so inking a minor league deal was better for payroll.
Not much to see here. Just business stuff
I thought he converted to the mound?
I believe you are correct. Maybe he’s a dual threat. backup catcher and part time bat swinger. Full time pitcher?
Veteran depth at C is essential on winning teams even if they arent the star-type or name player for that matter. Bonus here bc it’s an inexpensive move. Veteran depth. Ballesteros isnt the answer as a catcher unless its a blowout and a position player is on the hill.
Amazing that this guy is still around.
World Series here we come!
I thought he retired like 7 years ago.
Nope. Just toiled in the minors from 2018-2022. The guy really loves to play to go through that.
And he likely makes more money with this part time summer baseball job – than he would selling insurance. Lot more fun too.
Seems like this guy has been around forever. I thought he would be much closer to 40 than 34.
How does this guy keep getting signed?
Now that this cross town team has been getting all the headlines this off season, will hoyer and ricketts get off their butts and do something impactful or will the bethencourt type signings continue. I think the latter will continue because the cubs management are set in their ways and especially the budget.