The Cubs made a low-risk, potentially useful move on Friday, signing veteran catcher Christian Bethancourt to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. On the surface, it’s the kind of transaction that barely moves the needle in January. But if the past season taught us anything, it’s that depth matters – especially behind the plate.

Bethancourt, now 34, isn’t new to the Cubs organization. He spent time with the team in 2024 and could once again play a role if injuries hit the catching corps. This is a depth signing, plain and simple – but it’s one with some upside if things break a certain way.

Let’s rewind to last season. The Cubs got strong production from their catching tandem of Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya.

Kelly, the veteran, delivered his best offensive season in years, clubbing 17 home runs – his highest total since 2019 – and ranking among the top 10 hitting catchers in the league. He also stayed relatively fresh thanks to Amaya’s early-season emergence.

Amaya, just 26, posted a .281/.314/.500 slash line and a 126 wRC+ across 103 plate appearances, giving the Cubs a potent one-two punch behind the dish.

But things took a turn. Amaya first went down with an oblique injury that sidelined him for three months.

Then, in mid-August, an ankle injury effectively ended his season. Suddenly, the Cubs were scrambling for answers at catcher – and that’s when Reese McGuire stepped in and gave them steady, reliable play when they needed it most.

That’s the lens through which to view the Bethancourt signing. He’s not being brought in to compete for a starting job. He’s here as insurance – the kind of veteran presence you hope never has to play a major role, but one you’re glad to have if things go sideways.

Bethancourt’s deal includes a reported $1.6 million salary if he makes the big-league roster – or a prorated portion based on how much time he spends in the majors. That’s a fair price for a backup catcher with big-league experience and a track record of stepping up in a pinch.

And he’s done it before – for the Cubs, no less. In 2024, Bethancourt appeared in 24 games and made the most of his 59 plate appearances, posting an .814 OPS with three home runs and 15 RBI.

He had one of the most memorable performances of that season in a wild comeback win over the Pirates, driving in seven runs to help erase a 10-3 deficit in a 14-10 victory. That kind of game doesn’t define a career, but it does remind you that Bethancourt can still deliver in the right moment.

Of course, there are no guarantees. Bethancourt struggled at Triple-A in the Blue Jays’ system last year, managing just a .551 OPS.

If he doesn’t show signs of life at the plate in spring training or early in the season at Triple-A, the Cubs can move on and look elsewhere for catching depth. But if he hits?

He becomes a valuable piece of insurance – someone who knows the staff, understands the clubhouse, and can hold the line if called upon.

This is the kind of quiet, under-the-radar move that doesn’t make headlines but can pay off in the long grind of a 162-game season. The Cubs have seen firsthand how quickly things can change behind the plate. With Bethancourt in the fold, they’re a little better prepared for whatever comes next.