Pirates Land “Swiss Army Knife” Bethancourt in Sneaky Steal
Yankees Send Veteran Catcher Christian Bethancourt to Pirates in Post-Deadline Deal
The Big News in Simple Terms
Key Takeaway: The New York Yankees have traded 34-year-old catcher Christian Bethancourt to the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash. Even though the MLB trade deadline has passed, this move is allowed because Bethancourt wasn’t on the Yankees’ 40-man roster. He’s heading to Triple-A first but will likely join the Pirates’ big league team soon.
Why This Trade Was Allowed After the Deadline
You might be wondering: "I thought trades weren’t allowed after the deadline!"
Normally, you’re right. But there’s a special exception:
- The Rule: Teams can still trade players after the deadline
- The Condition: Only if the player has not been added to the 40-man roster
- Bethancourt’s Status: He was on a minor league contract with the Yankees
- The Result: This made him eligible to be traded to Pittsburgh
Think of it like this: The 40-man roster is like a VIP list. If you’re not on it, teams can still move you around even after the main trading window closes.
Who Is Christian Bethancourt?
The Basics
- Age: 34 years old
- Position: Catcher (also can play other spots)
- Experience: 8 seasons in the big leagues
- Current Status: Has only played in the minor leagues this year
His Journey This Season
| Step | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Spring | Signed minor league deal with Chicago Cubs |
| July | Released by Cubs |
| Mid-July | Signed minor league deal with New York Yankees |
| August 19 | Traded to Pittsburgh Pirates for cash |
How Has He Played This Year?
In Triple-A (Minor Leagues) – Pretty Good!
Bethancourt has had 249 plate appearances at the highest minor league level:
- Batting Average: .270 (gets a hit 27% of the time)
- On-Base Percentage: .320 (reaches base 32% of the time)
- Slugging Percentage: .491 (hits for decent power)
- wRC+: 100 ← This means exactly league average!
What is wRC+? It’s a stat that measures offensive value where 100 = league average. Above 100 is good, below 100 is below average. Bethancourt’s 100 means he’s been a perfectly average hitter in Triple-A this year.
In His Big League Career – Struggled at the Plate
Over 1,301 plate appearances in the majors:
- Line: .229/.259/.362
- Home Runs: 35
- Walk Rate: Only 3.7% (very low – he rarely takes walks)
- wRC+: 71 (29% below league average)
His Defense
- Framing (catching pitches to make them look like strikes): Below average
- Other Defense (blocking, throwing, game calling): Solid marks
Why Did the Pirates Want Him?
The Catching Crisis in Pittsburgh
The Pirates suddenly found themselves short on catchers:
- Endy Rodríguez → Injured List (left hip inflammation)
- Remaining Catchers:
- Henry Davis – Strong defense, but not hitting much
- Rafael Flores – Hitting really well lately, also plays 1st base
The Platoon Situation
Flores has been sharing first base with Spencer Horwitz:
- Flores bats right-handed
- Horwitz bats left-handed
- They split time based on which hand the opposing pitcher throws with
What Happens Next? Three Possible Scenarios
Option 1: Three-Catcher Roster
- Keep Davis, Flores, AND Bethancourt all on the big league team
- Benefit: Always have a fresh catcher available
- Downside: Uses an extra roster spot
Option 2: Send Someone Down
- Davis has minor league options (can be sent down without losing him)
- Flores also has options
- But Flores is hitting great right now – hard to demote him
- Davis brings elite defense – hard to remove him
Option 3: Bethancourt Stays in Triple-A (for now)
- He joins the "taxi squad" (emergency backup list) in Los Angeles
- Gets called up only if someone gets hurt
- Requires a 40-man roster move if he officially joins the team
Important: If Bethancourt gets added to the active roster, the Pirates must make a corresponding move to clear a spot on their 40-man roster.
Summary
- Yankees trade Christian Bethancourt (34, veteran catcher) to Pirates
- Allowed post-deadline because he wasn’t on 40-man roster
- Cost: Just cash considerations (no players traded)
- Bethancourt’s 2024: League-average hitter in Triple-A (wRC+ 100)
- Career MLB: Below-average bat (wRC+ 71), low walk rate, solid defense
- Pirates’ need: Endy Rodríguez injured, only two catchers left
- Next steps: Bethancourt to Triple-A Indy, then taxi squad in LA
- Roster puzzle: Three catchers? Demote someone? Wait and see?
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "cash considerations" mean?
It means the Pirates are paying the Yankees a small amount of money for Bethancourt’s rights. No players were exchanged—just money. It’s typically a modest sum (often $50,000–$100,000).
What is a "taxi squad"?
It’s a group of players who travel with the major league team but aren’t on the active roster. They’re ready to be called up immediately if someone gets injured or needs a day off. Think of them as "emergency reserves."
Why is Bethancourt’s walk rate important?
A 3.7% walk rate is extremely low (league average is ~8-9%). It means he rarely takes free passes to first base. This limits his on-base percentage and overall offensive value, even when he hits for some power.
Can the Pirates send Henry Davis to the minors?
Yes! Davis has minor league options remaining, meaning Pittsburgh can demote him to Triple-A without risking losing him to another team. However, his strong defense makes him valuable to keep.
What’s a 40-man roster move?
Every MLB team has a 40-man roster (players under major league contracts). To add Bethancourt, the Pirates must remove someone else from this 40-man list—either by trading, releasing, placing on the 60-day IL, or sending someone through waivers.
Photo courtesy of Kamil Krzaczynski, Imagn Images