To the extent you felt the Cubs had a hole at Iowa for an established veteran big-league-ish back-up catcher, they have now 🌳filled that hole.
Christian Bethancourt is probably not a big-league-caliber back-up at this point, but as an emergeꦬncy third option, not a bad pick up :
Bethancourt, 32, has bounced all around, and was actually pretty good as recently as 2022 (.252/.283/.409/100 wRC+, good defense). He stepped back offensively in 2023, and then fell off a cliff this year in limited duty with the Marlins. The glove is likely still pretty good, so while you wouldn’t expect him to contribute much on offense if pressed into service, he can probably handle a pitching staff.
I know what you’re wondering: does this mean anything with respect to breakout catching prospect Moises Ballesteros, who is otherwise catching 4-ish games per week at Iowa? Probably not, since the Cubs’ other catching options at Iowa right now were not necessarily guys that they’d want to bring up as the back-up if something happened to Miguel Amaya or Tomas Nido (Caleb Knight and Bryce Windham – neither has big league experience). In other words, I think adding Bethancourt says more about those two than it does about Ballesteros. I wouldn’t be surprised if Knight is moved back down to Tennessee, and Windham continues being more like a utility guy who also catches.
That is to say, I don’t think the Cubs added Bethancourt to cover innings at Iowa because Moises Ballesteros is coming up to the big league team. Yet. I think they added him because he happened to be available now.
… but, hey, I will note that his presence in the organization DOES provide a little extra cover if the Cubs DID decide to just say eff it and bring up Ballesteros.
