The Yankees have added another name to their catching depth chart, agreeing to a minor league deal with veteran Christian Bethancourt, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Bethancourt will head to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
It’s a move that fits the Yankees’ current search. New York has been looking for a right-handed-hitting catcher for a while, and Bethancourt gives them insurance in the minors rather than a direct answer at the big league level. The club is still expected to keep working the market.
Bethancourt, 34, has spent this season in the Cubs organization and hasn’t gotten back to the majors in 2025. He does bring eight other seasons of major league experience, having played for the Braves, Padres, Rays, A’s, Marlins and Cubs.
In 1301 plate appearances at the big league level, he has hit .229/.259/.362. His Triple-A work this year was more solid than flashy: a .262/.309/.466 line, a 90 wRC+, and 11 home runs in 222 plate appearances with Iowa.
Even with Bethancourt in the fold, the Yankees are still hunting for a righty-swinging catcher, and the pool may be shrinking. Shea Langeliers was never viewed as a likely trade candidate, and now a torn meniscus that required surgery will keep him out for most or all of the rest of the season.
Ryan Jeffers has also been tied to New York for some time, but Minnesota’s walk-off win last night pushed the Twins back to .500 and into buyer territory. Jeffers could still be moved if he brings back controllable bullpen help, with Victor Caratini potentially taking on more of the catching load, but GM Jeremy Zoll poured cold water on the idea, saying the Twins are “looking forward to doing everything we can to keep the group together” and make a postseason push.
If Jeffers stays put, other options could still surface. Tyler Stephenson stands as the top rental, and he, like Jeffers, brings right-handed pop.
The A’s are expected to move Jonah Heim, who hits from both sides but has done most of his damage as a right-handed batter, posting a .253/.292/.545 line from that side while struggling left-handed. Atlanta could also consider moving Sean Murphy and the final two-plus years of his contract, though any deal would likely require the Yankees to absorb a significant chunk of the roughly $34.76 million he’s owed through 2028.
Controllable names such as Hunter Goodman of Colorado and the Mets’ Francisco Alvarez will also come up before the deadline, but both are considered long shots to be dealt since they’re under control through 2029.
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