Christian Bethancourt - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Outrighted to Triple-A The Pirates outrighted Bethancourt to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.

Impact Bethancourt did not appear in a game during his brief time on the Pirates' 40-man roster, but he's slated to remain in the organization as experienced catching depth. The 35-year-old is a career .229/.259/.362 hitter over parts of eight big-league seasons.

SEPTEMBER 8 • ROTOWIRE

DFA'd by Pittsburgh The Pirates designated Bethancourt for assignment Friday, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.

Impact The veteran catcher was added to the big-league roster Tuesday after being acquired from the Yankees in mid-August, but he'll lose his place on Pittsburgh's 26-man and 40-man rosters without appearing in a game. Bethancourt hasn't seen action in the majors since 2024 with the Marlins and Cubs.

SEPTEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE

Added to MLB roster The Pirates selected Bethancourt's contract from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.

Impact The veteran backstop was acquired from the Yankees for cash in mid-August and will now get his first look in the majors with Pittsburgh. Bethancourt last appeared in the majors in 2024 and had a .209/.241/.367 slash line in 62 regular-season games with the Marlins and Cubs. He isn't likely to see much playing time as the club's No. 3 catcher behind Rafael Flores and Henry Davis.

SEPTEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Deadspin | Pirates acquire C Christian Bethancourt in trade with Yankees Deadspin | Pirates acquire C Christian Bethancourt in trade with Yankees

AUGUST 19 • DEADSPIN.COM

Pirates acquire veteran catcher Christian Bethancourt from Yankees in exchange for cash

The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired veteran catcher Christian Bethancourt from the New York Yankees

AUGUST 19 • Associated Press

Pirates acquire veteran catcher Bethancourt from Yankees The Pirates on Wednesday acquired catcher Christian Bethancourt from the Yankees in exchange for cash considerations. Bethancourt, who was a...

AUGUST 19 • MLB.COM

Shipped to Bucs The Pirates acquired Bethancourt from the Yankees on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations.

Impact The acquisition of Bethancourt bolsters the Pirates' organizational catching depth and could be an indication that Endy Rodriguez (hip) is headed for a longer-term absence. The 34-year-old Bethancourt saw big-league action over parts of eight seasons from 2013 through 2024, but he's played exclusively at the Triple-A level between stops with the Cubs and Yankees organizations in 2026. Over 249 plate appearances at Triple-A, Bethancourt has slashed .270/.320/.491 with 14 home runs and five stolen bases.

AUGUST 19 • ROTOWIRE

Catches on with Yankees The Yankees signed Bethancourt to a minor-league contract Tuesday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Impact Bethancourt had been at Triple-A Iowa in the Cubs organization before being released earlier this month. The 34-year-old is a career .229/.259/.362 hitter across parts of eight big-league seasons, though he hasn't seen any action in the majors since 2024.

JULY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Does not make roster The Cubs informed Bethancourt that he did not make the major-league roster out of camp, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact Bethancourt joined the Cubs back in December on a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training. With Chicago keeping all of Carson Kelly, Miguel Amaya and Moises Ballesteros on its Opening Day roster, there simply was no room for Bethancourt. The veteran catcher instead will likely head to Triple-A Iowa, where he'll give the team organizational depth.

MARCH 21 • ROTOWIRE

Goes to Cubs on NRI deal The Cubs signed Bethancourt to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Impact He'll be paid $1.6 million if in the majors, but with Carson Kelly and an out-of-minor-league-options Miguel Amaya already on the team, Bethancourt is unlikely to crack the Opening Day roster. The 34-year-old catcher spent the 2025 season at Triple-A Buffalo in the Blue Jays organization, posting just a .551 OPS. Bethancourt is a career .229/.259/.362 hitter over parts of eight big-league seasons.

DECEMBER 22, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Nets NRI deal with Toronto The Blue Jays signed Bethancourt to a minor-league contract Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Impact Bethancourt joins the competition to serve as Toronto's backup catcher behind starter Alejandro Kirk. The 33-year-old had an .814 OPS in 24 games for the Cubs in 2024 after the Marlins cut him loose, but between the two stops managed just a .608 OPS.

JANUARY 22, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Becomes free agent Bethancourt elected free agency Monday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact The Cubs cleared some space on their 40-man roster and Bethancourt has decided to hit free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment. Bethancourt finished the 2024 season strong with an .814 OPS in 24 games with the Cubs, but that was after he had a .466 OPS in 38 contests with the Marlins.

NOVEMBER 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Records steal Tuesday Bethancourt went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in Tuesday's 5-0 loss to the Pirates.

Impact Bethancourt has hit safely in his last five games, going 7-for-17 (.412) with 10 RBI and two steals in that span. A seven-RBI game last Wednesday versus the Pirates has fueled much of his recent success. The backup catcher is now at a .224/.262/.414 slash line with three steals, five home runs, 22 RBI and 18 runs scored over 51 contests between the Cubs and the Marlins this season.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Well-traveled catcher Christian Bethancourt thought he had run out of chances. Then the Cubs called

Well-traveled catcher Christian Bethancourt is having a moment with the Chicago Cubs

AUGUST 28, 2024 • Associated Press

Spearheads comeback with seven RBI Bethancourt drove in seven runs in Wednesday's comeback win over the Pirates, going 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, a stolen base and three runs scored.

Impact Facing a 10-3 deficit in the seventh inning, Bethancourt slugged a two-run home run off Kyle Nicolas before driving in two more runs on an eighth-inning double to cut the lead to three. With the Cubs trailing 10-9 in the ninth inning, it was none other than Bethancourt who drove in two runs on an RBI single to give the Cubs an 11-10 lead, completing the improbable comeback. The 32-year-old Bethancourt has been highly productive since being acquired by the Cubs in late July, batting .407 with three home runs, eight runs scored and 15 RBI in just 29 plate appearances (11 games) as the Cubs backup catcher behind Miguel Amaya. Bethancourt has certainly made a strong case for more playing time behind the plate, but his career .622 OPS indicates regression could be coming for the veteran.

AUGUST 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Christian Bethancourt drives in 7 as Chicago Cubs rally past Pirates for 14-10 victory

Christian Bethancourt drove in seven runs, including a go-ahead two-run single in the ninth, as the Chicago Cubs rallied past the Pittsburgh Pirates 14-10

AUGUST 28, 2024 • Associated Press

Homers in loss Bethancourt went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 8-2 loss to the Tigers.

Impact Bethancourt's fifth inning home run, his fourth of the season, provided all of Chicago's offense. The 32-year-old continues to serve as the backup to Miguel Amaya behind the plate, giving him limited upside in the short term. Neither catcher has been great offensively, however, as Bethancourt is sporting a .196 average and .614 OPS, compared to a .212 average and .584 OPS for Amaya.

AUGUST 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Greene, Sweeney and Carpenter homer as the Tigers beat the Cubs 8-2

Riley Greene, Trey Sweeney and Kerry Carpenter homered, helping the Detroit Tigers beat the Chicago Cubs 8-2

AUGUST 22, 2024 • Associated Press

Ian Happ and Michael Busch homers power Cubs past Twins 8-2

Ian Happ and Michael Busch homered and five Chicago pitchers combined for a six-hitter as the Cubs beat the Minnesota Twins 8-2

AUGUST 7, 2024 • Associated Press

Goes deep in win Bethancourt went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Friday's 6-3 win over the Cardinals.

Impact Bethancourt provided a key blast against new St. Louis starter Erick Fedde, which proved to be the difference in the game. It was just the third home run of the season for Bethancourt, who is batting .183 with a .547 OPS while playing for both the Marlins and now the Cubs. However, in four games since having his contract selected from Triple-A Iowa, the catcher has gone 4-for-11 with two extra-base hits and four RBI. Bethancourt will likely slow down at some point, and his fantasy value is limited by his timeshare with Miguel Amaya behind the plate.

AUGUST 3, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Bethancourt, Busch homer in 5-run 2nd inning as Cubs spoil Fedde's debut with Cardinals 6-3

Christian Bethancourt and Michael Busch homered in a five-run second inning and the Cubs spoiled the Cardinals’ debut of new acquisition Erick Fedde as Chicago stretched its winnin...

AUGUST 2, 2024 • Associated Press

Happ launches 2-run homer and Cubs pound out 17 hits in 13-4 rout of Reds

Ian Happ launched a two-run homer and the Chicago Cubs banged out nine doubles among their 17 hits in routing the Cincinnati Reds 13-4 to avoid a series sweep

AUGUST 1, 2024 • Associated Press

Added to roster The Cubs selected Bethancourt's contract from Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact Bethancourt will fill the roster spot vacated by Tomas Nido (knee) and will share catching duties with Miguel Amaya while Nido recuperates. The 32-year-old slashed just .159/.198/.268 across 88 plate appearances with the Marlins earlier this season.

JULY 26, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Added to roster The Cubs selected Bethancourt's contract from Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact Bethancourt will absorb the roster spot vacated by Tomas Nido (knee) and could share catching duties with Miguel Amaya while Nido recuperates. The 32-year-old slashed just .159/.198/.268 across 88 plate appearances with the Marlins earlier this season.

JULY 26, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Inks minors deal with Cubs Bethancourt signed a minor-league contract with the Cubs on Friday.

Impact Bethancourt was cut by Miami on June 27 after he slashed just .159/.198/.268 across 88 plate appearances. The 32-year-old will now attempt to get back on track with Triple-A Iowa, but it would likely take a drastic turnaround for the Cubs to consider adding Bethancourt to their big-league roster.

JULY 6, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

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