Guardians Claim Christian Bethancourt From Rays

The Guardians have successfully claimed Christian Bethancourt, a catcher, from the Rays, according to a report by Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

After being placed on waivers by the Rays over the weekend, Bethancourt’s tenure with the team has come to an end. He was acquired by Tampa Bay from the Oakland A’s before the 2022 trade deadline and provided solid performance, hitting .255/.265/.436 over 45 games.

However, this past season, Bethancourt struggled with a low on-base percentage, hitting only .225/.254/.381 over 332 plate appearances. His strikeout rate was also a concern, reaching 27.4%. As a result, the Rays decided to give more playing time to René Pinto.

With the conclusion of the season, it became clear that Bethancourt no longer fit into the Rays’ plans. He was projected to earn a $2.3MM salary if tendered a contract. The Rays, who have a significant arbitration class and were looking to upgrade their catching position, decided to place him on waivers ahead of schedule.

Cleveland’s decision to claim Bethancourt suggests that they intend to retain him at the projected salary. While Bo Naylor remains the Guardians’ top catcher, the team did not receive much production from Cam Gallagher this year, making him a likely non-tender candidate. Bethancourt could serve as a right-handed backup option to Naylor, providing a solid arm and power at the plate.

Having accumulated between four and five years of service, Bethancourt would be eligible for arbitration again next offseason if he remains on the roster for the entire year.