As first reported by Jon Heyman, the Cubs have signed catcher Christian Bethancourt to a minor league deal that will pay him $1.6 million if he makes the team. The 34-year-old’s last big league action came with the Cubs in 2024, when he slashed .281/.305/.509 with a 125 wRC+ over 59 plate appearances over the last two months of the season. With Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya slotted in as the club’s main catchers, Bethancourt provides much-needed organizational depth.
The Cubs had no catchers who looked like guarantees for Iowa’s Triple-A roster before this move, so it’s very possible they’ll keep adding.