May 19, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins catcher Christian Bethancourt (25) watches his home run leave the park in the seventh inning against the New York Mets at loanDepot Park. Photo: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Cubs Sign Christian Bethancourt to Minor League Deal

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net | By Bobby Foster | Last updated Jul 6, 2024 5:47 PM ET

After signing Tomas Nido , the Chicago Cubs are not done adding to their catching depth. This time, the team is signing veteran Christian Bethancourt to a minor-league deal.

The 32-year-old spent time with the Miami Marlins before being DFA'd in June. In 82 plate appearances, Bethancourt recorded a meager .159 BA. As usual, there is minimal risk in the Cubs adding the veteran to their organizational depth.

With Moises Ballesteros raking in Triple-A Iowa, it stands to reason that this might be a precursor to his promotion or another veteran the prospect can lean on for veteran leadership.

The Cubs have signed Christian Bethancourt and sent him to the @IowaCubs.

Bethancourt was designated for assignment by the Marlins last month.
— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) July 5, 2024

Bethancourt debuted in 2013 for the Atlanta Braves before bouncing around the majors with four other clubs. He even spent time in the KBO as a member of the NC Dinos in 2019.

If he can produce anything for Triple-A Iowa, it's safe to assume that the Cubs will be calling him up. Catching still remains a big issue and any upgrades will help at this point.

Miguel Amaya looks lost both at the plate and behind it. Tomas Nido has been fine, but he's not going to be blocking anyone from stepping up at the position.

His defensive metrics are better than his offensive output, so it seems that the Cubs are prioritizing that over his offense in this situation. For the minors, it could come in handy with the development of their young pitching in Iowa.

The best guess here is that this is a move that will influence Ballesteros. Adding a veteran catcher will help his development and be a solution to who will take over for him if the call happens to come in 2024.

Regardless, Bethancourt may stick with the organization for the rest of the season or spend as little time as Vinny Nittoli did. It's a guessing game when it comes to the Cubs' moves right now.

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

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