Bethancourt elected free agency Monday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
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.
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Cubs' Christian Bethancourt: Records steal Tuesday
Rotowire
Bethancourt went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in Tuesday's 5-0 loss to the Pirates.
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.
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Cubs' Christian Bethancourt: Spearheads comeback with seven RBI
Rotowire
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.
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. With the Cubs trailing 10-9 in the ninth inning, it was none other than Bethancourt who drove in two runs 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 is coming for the veteran.
Bethancourt went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 8-2 loss to the Tigers.
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.
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Cubs' Christian Bethancourt: Goes deep in win
Rotowire
Bethancourt went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Friday's 6-3 win over the Cardinals.
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 appeal is limited by his timeshare with Miguel Amaya behind the plate.
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Cubs' Christian Bethancourt: Added to roster
Rotowire
The Cubs selected Bethancourt's contract from Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
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.
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Cubs' Christian Bethancourt: Inks minors deal with Cubs
Rotowire
Bethancourt signed a minor-league contract with the Cubs on Friday.
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.
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Christian Bethancourt: Released by Miami
Rotowire
The Marlins released Bethancourt on June 27.
Bethancourt had been outrighted off the 40-man roster after clearing waivers but has now been cut loose. The owner of a career .226/.257/.355 batting line over parts of eight seasons, Bethancourt might have to settle for a minor-league contract with his new organization.
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Marlins' Christian Bethancourt: Sent outright to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Marlins outrighted Bethancourt to Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday.
Bethancourt cleared waivers after exiting the Marlins' 40-man roster a week ago. The catcher can elect free agency if he wants, and it's not yet clear whether he'll take that option or accept the outright assignment.
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Marlins' Christian Bethancourt: Loses roster spot
Rotowire
Bethancourt was designated for assignment by the Marlins on Thursday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Bethancourt has served as Miami's backup catcher this season, but he has struggled to a .466 OPS across 88 plate appearances. Ali Sanchez is expected to take over as the new second catcher on the depth chart behind Nick Fortes.
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Marlins' Christian Bethancourt: Pops second homer
Rotowire
Bethancourt went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Tuesday's extra-inning win over the Cardinals.
The veteran catcher launched a solo shot off Lance Lynn in the sixth inning, Bethancourt's second homer of the season. The hits were his first since May 27, and the 32-year-old has offered little at the plate as the backup to Nick Fortes, slashing a woeful .159/.198/.268 on the year in 88 plate appearances.
Bethancourt was reinstated from the bereavement list Tuesday.
As planned, Bethancourt rejoins the Marlins after a three-game absence. Jhonny Pereda will be sent back to Triple-A Jacksonville. Bethancourt is slashing .162/.208/.250 while splitting catching duties with Nick Fortes.
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Marlins' Christian Bethancourt: Placed on bereavement list
Rotowire
The Marlins placed Bethancourt on the bereavement list Saturday.
Bethancourt will be away from the team for three games as he tends to more important matters. Jhonny Pereda was recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move and will likely split time with Nick Fortes behind the plate while Bethancourt is out.
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Marlins' Christian Bethancourt: Not starting Sunday
Rotowire
Bethancourt is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against Arizona.
Bethancourt started behind home plate in Saturday's 3-2 loss to Arizona, going 1-for-3 with two strikeouts. Nick Fortes will serve as the catcher Sunday and bat ninth against Diamondbacks left-hander Blake Walston.
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Marlins' Christian Bethancourt: Belts first homer of season
Rotowire
Bethancourt went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Mets.
The catcher took Jake Diekman deep in the seventh inning, bringing the Marlins to within a run at 4-3, but it was as close as they got. Bethancourt has offered little at the plate this season -- Sunday's homer was his first of 2024, and he's slashing .143/.186/.232 in 60 plate appearances as the backup to Nick Fortes.
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Marlins' Christian Bethancourt: Sitting again Wednesday
Rotowire
Bethancourt is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.
Bethancourt will sit for the second day in a row while Nick Fortes receives another turn behind the plate. Neither Bethancourt (.349 OPS) nor Fortes (.336 OPS) has been productive at the plate this season and both typically bat near the bottom of the order when included in the lineup, making it difficult to extract any fantasy value from the Marlins' catching situation.
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Marlins' Christian Bethancourt: Playing time picking up
Rotowire
Bethancourt will start at catcher and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Tigers.
Bethancourt will draw his third time in four games, with the playing time behind the dish beginning to tilt more in his favor while he's wielded a hot bat of late. Over his last four starts, Bethancourt has gone 6-for-13 at the plate, but he's still holding down a lowly .346 OPS on the season. That mark is right in line with Nick Fortes' (.345), so as soon as Bethancourt cools off, the two backstops could settle back into more of a timeshare.
