The Marlins and Guardians have announced a trade that will send catcher Christian Bethancourt to Miami in exchange for cash considerations. Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El Extrabase was the first to report Bethancourt going to the Marlins, while the Miami Herald’s Craig Mish reported the cash return to Cleveland (both links to X).
The trade adds context to the Guardians’ $one-year, $4MM deal with Austin Hedges from earlier today. The signing initially seemed curious given how Bethancourt and Bo Naylor were already lined up as Cleveland’s catching corps, but obviously the Guards were planning two moves at once in both signing Hedges and then flipping Bethancourt to the catcher-needy Marlins.
Bethancourt is a veteran of seven MLB seasons, though none in 2018-21 as he played in the minor leagues and spent a season playing in South Korea. Returning to the big leagues with the A’s in 2022, Bethancourt was then dealt to Tampa Bay in July 2022, and the catcher ended up hitting .235/.257/.399 over 483 PA with the Rays over the last two seasons. With his numbers falling off at the plate in 2023, the Rays outrighted Bethancourt off their 40-man roster at the start of November, and the Guardians claimed him off waivers two days later.
Almost at that exact same time, Peter Bendix was in final talks with the Marlins to leave the Rays’ GM job and become Miami’s new president of baseball operations. As such, Bethancourt has become one of several ex-Tampa players that Bendix has already added to Miami’s roster during his brief time in charge of the front office.
While Bethancourt had exactly a league-average 100 wRC+ (from a .252/.283/.409 slash line and 11 homers in 333 PA) in 2022, it is safe to assume he probably won’t be viewed as a true starting catcher for the Marlins. Bethancourt and Nick Fortes at least provide the Fish with a slight upgrade on paper from last year’s catching tandem of Fortes and the non-tendered Jacob Stallings, as Bethancourt’s strong throwing arm can pair with Fortes’ glove for a defense-first approach. Bendix will probably keep an eye out for any more possible upgrades, as Fortes can still be optioned to the minors.
Bethancourt was projected to earn $2.3MM in arbitration salary this winter, so the Rays’ outright essentially served as an early non-tender for the team. This is Betancourt’s second of three arb-eligible years, so the Marlins have control on his services through the 2025 season.
Feeling good about my Garver-TB prediction.
How is that relevant?
Because there are few teams that are seriously looking at the C market and MIA probably is set there now.
Unless Bethancourt is simply the current “upgrade” until they can identify and sign a better one. That’s how Cleveland viewed Bethancourt. He’d be fine as the backup to Naylor, unless they find someone else they viewed as better for that role.
Garver isn’t a catcher
Well TB needs someone who can “hit” and “catch”. Very few options out there in that mold.
He caught in 28 games last season. That’s what a catcher does.
What position does Cash play? I hope he’s an OF with power.
Can see garver in boston if short term deal
Breslow said they didn’t plan to add a C IIRC. I would have picked them if not for that comment.
Guardians acquire Cash for Bethancourt. Recent deals involving the Guardians have been for Cash and they may well field a starting line up next year with at least 5 guys named Cash, all of whom do not have a fielding position on the team…..and they still won’t be able to afford to sign the #1 pick.
as a Rays fan I hope your prediction is right
Nice pick up!! CBeth has his moments and can have a good 4 months outta the season. Solid stop behind also
I thought the Marlins would go for an upgrade, Gary Sanchez is still out there, I guess Fortes and Bethancourt will rotate
Gary Sanchez is beyond washed
Washed, rinsed, dried, folded, and put away?
@For Love of the Game
All of the above. Bethancourt, though, is an inexpensive upgrade over Stallings, but basically a stopgap until the next great Marlins C comes along (like Benito Santiago, Charles Johnson, Paul LoDuca, or J.T. Realmuto). We need someone with All-Star potential, but for now, Bethancourt will have to do.
He had a 2.4 WAR last season. I wouldn’t call that washed.
Sanchez just had his best seasons in years…
Don’t expect him to repeat it. He’s not a C. He’s just penciled into the lineup there.
@Big Smoke
The problem with Gary Sanchez is that other than he can hit HRs, he provides nothing else. Also, I imagine he’s more expensive than what we just added. Makes no sense to spend a lot for a guy that may, at best, be a platoon with Fortes, but more likely the backup.
This move with Bethancourt has already improved our chances at catcher over Stallings. We can live with that, and with them trying another upgrade before the season starts.
Now with this move, it leaves us more available money for adding a SS (like maybe Tim Anderson or Amed Rosario) and/or a needed high-leverage reliever/legit Closer. And we also have our pitching prospects that have been talked about in trade talks. Personally, if we do indeed are looking to move one of our pitchers for the other holes, I wouldn’t mind seeing us do one more deal with
Cleveland by seeing about Clase…and if they insist on a big package, I look at a bigger deal of targeting both Clase and Gimenez. Those are bigger needs – starting SS and impact reliever who can shut the doors.
Strikes out too much 27.4% K rate, Swings and misses too much (36.6% Whiff Rate), Doesn’t Walk (3.9% BB Rate), not a speed threat. Below Average Framing, and terrible blocking behind the plate. Literally the only thing he does well is show off his pop time on the in between inning throw down to second, and on occasion, throw a runner or two out. This guy is just as bad as Stallings. Typical Marlins Bottom Barrel Bargain Shopping. Shouldn’t be surprised. They told us what kind of club we are going to be when they signed Bendix to run the show. Cough Cheap Cough Cough
@South Florida Baseball Sustainability Commission
The thing is, Bethancourt is very likely going to do better than Stallings. Stallings looked clearly done last year. Bethancourt hasn’t shown that too much yet, and next year is his age-32 season. And his addition seems to have less to do about money and more with Bendix knowing him from their time with the Rays. We’ve seen Bendix pluck quite a few pieces away from the Rays so far. And why shouldn’t he considering how successful they’ve been while he was part of them?
As for the spending, while in past offseasons, I would be bothered about not spending much, but not this offseason. The Marlins made the playoffs, and should be contending for a spot again next year. They entered the offseason with really few holes – starting SS, Catching upgrade, RH relievers and a high leverage reliever/Closer. Based on what’s available to them, and what they already have as a roster, they really don’t need to spend much, and certainly not at Catcher when we have Fortes. At catcher, all we needed was someone that was an upgrade from Stallings, who has been awful. Bendix has also been stockpiling on RH relievers to compete for roles in Spring Training to compliment our surplus of LH relievers. These two areas are pretty much already covered, and any bigger additions are a bonus at this point.
Now with SS, should we be spending a fortune to get a SS when either Tim Anderson or Amed Rosario can be had at budget-friendly prices? All we need is an upgrade over what Wendle was because we were good enough to make the playoffs with him, so an upgrade there works for a team that can expect to compete again in 2024.
Now the only area where I would look to spend if we do, it would be at Closer/high-leverage reliever. Unfortunately the Marlins did miss out on Kimbrel again. And I don’t think Hader fits what we do because we already have so many lefties in the first place. So we need to look at the trade market. And the one name that fits what we can use, and is available, is Clase of Cleveland. And that will not require big spending because he’s already signed to a very budget-friendly contract. All it would take is prospect assets. But with that, we’d still have to evaluate whether the Guardians asking price is acceptable for us to do something. If not, and we don’t land a high leverage piece, I don’t think too many of us will be ready to tear down the house because we did see what Puk did the first half, and how his demeanor seems to fit a Closer, so he’ll very likely ready to take on the role if Scott fails at the role again. The current structure of the offseason, the Marlins needs don’t require much spending. We can get what we need at low costs, and can save the payroll flexibility for potential deals at the trade deadline.
With all this said…Go Marlins!
This is a shame. Obviously, we have to see who is coming to Cleveland, but I was looking forward to seeing Christian play for the Guardians.
Gonna be a SS
lol
Austin Hedges and Bo Naylor will be the Guardians Catching duo
Misread the statement. Expect a low level minor leaguer
Cash. AGAIN !!!!! Idiots
They signed austin henges for 4 million.
Id rather have Bethancourt in this situation. Hedges is a different lvl bad offensively in my opinion
Also, for reasons I will never understand, Hedges is more expensive
Not a bad get for Marlins. I say go out and get Gary Sanchez on a 2 year deal now and roll with Fortes as AAA depth. Sanchez/Bethancourt seems like a nice duo to have. Or go with 3 catchers and run with Sanchez as a third C/DH/1B type.
When did Sanchez play first base, I must have missed that.
He has played a few innings there
@stretch123
Your three -headed catching platoon concept has some merit. However, I think those boys would generate far too many strikeouts with RISP. The occasional Sanchez bomb wouldn’t be enough to compensate. We need guys who understand situational hitting and can make consistent contact. We have to put the ball in play with greater authority if we’re going to score more runs next season.
True. We can dream about signing Garver but highly doubt Sherman would cough up the money to sign him lol
Didn’t Bethancourt try his hand at pitching exclusively a few years back when he realized that hitting wasn’t meant for him? Or was he just considering it? Am I mistaken?
You’re not mistaken
yes i think it may of been with Padres or Tampa Bay. I can tell you I’ve heard exact same thing about his ablity to pitch when he was a Padre
I’m surprised at the lack of a return. The Guardians clearly valued Hedges at 4 million over Bethancourt at 2-pont-whatever million. Not sure I agree, but unlike my fellow Guardians fans, I’m not angry about it. Hedges will be a really good support system for Bo Naylor, I think.
Ridiculous. Now if Bo goes down we’re stuck with the inept bat of Hedges again. A team with so many holes in the lineup could have really benefitted from Bethancourts bat on the days Naylor doesn’t play.
So Indians picked him up a month ago and now traded for cash. Also signed negative war Hedges for 4 mill LOL.
Bethancourt is someone who will always have a job at this stage of his career, but his team might also be looking to upgrade him at any time. Bethancourt is a better hitter than Hedges, but Hedges is better defensively, and that’s something Cleveland wanted as the backup to Naylor.
I sure am glad the Braves did NOT offer Bethancourt a extension.
If they had it would have only been 7-years around $7MM total
Lol AA knows how to get guys to sign team friendly deals.
This makes total sense…we needed someone to offset Bo Naylor’s offensive production behind the plate. Having two catchers hitting over the Mendoza line just wasn’t going to fly!
But seriously, I always liked Austin Hedges. Yeah, you know you’re not going to get much offense, but you’re going to get great defense and leadership. For a backup catcher, that’s important.
“Bethancourt and Nick Fortes at least provide the Fish with a slight upgrade on paper from last year’s catching tandem of Fortes and the non-tendered Jacob Stallings, as Bethancourt’s strong throwing arm can pair with Fortes’ glove for a defense-first approach.”
If Fortes’ is glove is so good, just let Bethancourt use it and you get the best of both worlds.
Cause the Guardians thought better of having a backup Catcher with any offensive upside.
Decent move to upgrade at backup catcher. Now let’s go get that starting SS and high leverage reliever!
@MarlinsFanBase
Acquiring Bethancourt was a smart move in that it allowed us to upgrade while still conserving resources. I like the idea of a trade for Gimenez and/or Clase (if the price is right). And the Guardians need OF help, so we might be able to convince them to take a flier on Avi Garcia. That, for us, would be addition by subtraction.
I’d love for anyone to take on Avi, but for the Guardians to do it, it would only happen under the premise that we give them a prospect overpay in a deal, and still send a lot of money for Avi’s contract. We’d be better off just DFA-ing him if he doesn’t produce in Spring Training, and just swallow the money. The easiest route for the Marlins to move Avi is via a bad contract for a bad contract type of deal (like for Javi Baez or Giancarlo Stanton), or taking on a bigger contract (like Sal Perez), and having Avi as part of the trade to offset the salaries, while probably not requiring the other team to pay out the incoming big contract
For something like Gimenez and Clase, that would be a deal I explore, even if it starts as us asking for just Clase, but if the Guardians ask for a key young pitcher and big return, then I try to expand it to include Gimenez. If they don’t, then I look to get Clase alone, then signing either Amed Rosario or Tim Anderson at SS. I want to try to maintain as many young/prospect assets as we have, so I’m not willing to trade any for a SS while Tim Anderson and Amed Rosario are available via free agency with no QO attached.
@MarlinsFanBase
Excellent assessment. Regarding Avi, if he goes into the tank again, just designate him and eat the money. We have internal options like Troy Johnston and Dane Myers to take his spot. Either one would be an upgrade. We also have Peyton Burdick and Victor Mesa Jr. on the 40-man roster, though they may not yet be major-league ready.
I like the idea of Gimenez and Clase, if the deal doesn’t prove too costly. Other young SS talent like Merrill (Padres), Marte (Reds), or Grissom (Braves) may be a bit too expensive in terms of prospect capital. So why not go with either Rosario or Anderson? Backed up by Edwards and Berti, with Brujan and Amaya also in the picture. It makes perfect sense. Spend $$ wisely and judiciously. Spend it where it’ll do the most good. And never lose sight of the long-term goal. That would be building a sustainable winner through first-rate drafting and player development. The Reds, Rays, and Orioles have done it. Why not us?
Go Marlins!
Cleveland signed Clase and Gimenez to extensions because they are both part of their core.. The only way that Clase is traded, is a significant controllable MLB bat in a position of need is part of any trade. Cleveland needs offense. They would have no interest in Garcia or anything to do with his contract.
@hockeyjohn
Both the Marlins and Guardians are similar in their make-up: pitching-rich but offensively challenged. Avi Garcia’s been an anchor chain around our necks for the past two seasons. But we can work around him. And should a potential deal for Clase and/or Gimenez prove unworkable, there are many other good (and less expensive) options we can explore in order to improve. After all, a good trade should be a win/win for both parties.
Blargh. I was happy for Hedgey during the postseason but was excited to see Bethancourt this coming season. He seemed to mash whenever facing Cleveland and would offer an offensive boost over recent backup catchers. I’m really having a hard time squaring this with the clear need for offense and the uncertain finances.
At this rate won’t Cleveland run out of players? Maybe they’re trying to save by only having a 28 man
Don’t like it at all. Now if Bo gets hurt, our backup catcher is an automatic out
What position does Cash play? I hope he’s an OF with power.
Here’s to defensive backup Cs