World Baseball Network has built a minor league contract signing ledger highlighting key international-born players whose signings may carry implications for the 2026 Major League Baseball season and the 2026 World Baseball Classic, scheduled for this upcoming March.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post on December 22, Panamanian catcher Christian Bethancourt signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs. If he makes the Major League roster, the deal would pay him $1.6 million.
Christian Bethancourt agrees to Cubs deal. $1.6M if in majors.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 22, 2025
https://x.com/JonHeyman/status/2003161493211406613?s=20
Christian Bethancourt MLB and International Professional Career
Bethancourt has played eight seasons in Major League Baseball with the Atlanta Braves from 2013–15, the San Diego Padres from 2016–17, the Oakland Athletics in 2022, the Tampa Bay Rays from 2022–23, and the Miami Marlins and Chicago Cubs in 2024.
Bethancourt also played during the 2019 season with the NC Dinos of the Korean Baseball Organization during his professional career.
The 34-year-old right-handed hitter from Panama City, Panama, will battle for the backup catcher position during the upcoming Cactus League season under manager Craig Counsell, competing with Miguel Amaya and Moisés Ballesteros, while Carson Kelly is expected to serve as the starter.
Bethancourt appeared in 14 games during the 2025–26 LIDOM season with the Tigres del Licey, hitting .120/.154/.120 across 26 plate appearances. He recorded three hits, one walk, and struck out seven times.
Last season, Bethancourt played in the Toronto Blue Jays organization with Triple-A Buffalo.
Bethancourt appeared in 58 games and batted .173 over 214 plate appearances, collecting 34 hits, 10 doubles, seven home runs, 21 RBI, two stolen bases, 11 walks, 56 strikeouts, and posted a .551 OPS, before being released by the Blue Jays on September 3, 2025.
Christian Bethancourt FIRED UP after a clutch double
Panamá rallying vs. México in the bottom of the 9th… pic.twitter.com/2OAA69eBLt
— Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) February 3, 2024
In 2024 with the Marlins and Cubs, Bethancourt played in 62 games, hitting .209/.241/.367 across 147 plate appearances. He recorded 29 hits, seven doubles, five home runs, 22 RBI, three stolen bases, five walks, and 36 strikeouts, prior to electing free agency on November 5, 2024.
Bethancourt originally signed a minor league contract with Toronto on January 22, 2025, which included an invitation to Major League spring training. He appeared in nine games during the 2025 Grapefruit League season and produced a .200/.188/.267 slash line in 15 at-bats, collecting three hits, one double, four RBI, and striking out four times, before being activated to Triple-A Buffalo on March 22.
Across eight Major League seasons, Bethancourt has appeared in 428 games, logging 1,301 plate appearances and compiling a career batting average of .229. He has recorded 284 hits, 60 doubles, 35 home runs, 135 RBI, 12 stolen bases, 48 walks, 326 strikeouts, and posted a .621 OPS.
Bethancourt remains a player of interest for Panama’s 2026 World Baseball Classic roster, where his experience across MLB, international winter leagues, and the Korean Baseball Organization could factor into roster evaluations ahead of the March tournament.
Photo: Chicago Cubs’ Christian Bethancourt, right, celebrates with Dansby Swanson, left, after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)