It wasn’t a great 2024 season for Bethancourt, who hit .209/.241/.367 in 147 plate appearances for the Cubs and Marlins. The 33-year-old was productive in 2022 and 2023 so he has a chance to earn the backup role in Toronto, but he will need to beat out Tyler Heineman in spring training.

The quartet cleared waivers and have all elected free agency. Almonte is was an effective high-leverage reliever in the recent past and figures to get another shot somewhere else. With top catching prospect Moises Ballesteros on the doorstep of the majors there was no reason for the club to keep Bethancourt around any longer.

The Cubs got absolutely nothing from the catcher spot for four months, but now Bethancourt is hitting .407 with three homers in 11 games since replacing an injured Tomás Nido, and Miguel Amaya has gone 14-for-22 with two homers in his last six games to raise his OPS by nearly 100 points. This is the same Bethancourt who hit .159 in 82 at-bats for the Marlins this year. Before driving in seven, including the tying and go-ahead runs in the ninth today, his career high for RBI had been three through 413 major league games.

Bethancourt brought the only two runs of the game in to score for the Cubs on Wednesday, taking Brant Hurter deep for a two-run blast. The 32-year-old backstop has gotten sporadic playing time behind starter Miguel Amaya. He’s slashing .196/.241/.373 with four homers and 14 RBI across 110 plate appearances.