MIAMI – The Miami Marlins today acquired catcher Christian Bethancourt from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for cash considerations.
Bethancourt played in 104 games with the Tampa Bay Rays during the 2023 season, batting .225 with 16 doubles, 11 home runs, and 33 RBI in his seventh Major League season while throwing out 13 of 57 baserunners (22.8 percent). On November 6, 2023, following the conclusion of the season, he was claimed off waivers by the Guardians.
The Panamanian-born catcher owns a career .992 fielding percentage, a 31.9 percent caught stealing rate (46 of 144), and a .231 batting average in 365 games with the Braves (2013-15), Padres (2016-17), Athletics (2022), and Rays (2022-23).
The 32-year-old veteran originally signed with the Braves as an International free agent in 2008 and made his Major League debut with Atlanta in September 2013. Bethancourt has also played eight seasons in the Dominican Winter League, the Caribbean Series where he was named an All-Star with Panama in 2022, and was part of Panama’s roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
The 40-man roster now stands at 40.