The Cubs Bring Back an Old Friend and Sign a Former Ranger

Jed Hoyer and the Cubs are once again active in the free agent market, making a pair of deals for former Cub Christan Bethencourt and Jacob Webb. Bethancourt signed a minor league deal and will provide much needed catching depth in the minor leagues, while Webb signed a big league deal with a club option for 2027.

Bethancourt first signed with the Cubs in July of 2024 after the Miami Marlins released him. He logged 24 games for the Cubs down the stretch and played well. His .281/.305/.509 slash line produced a 126 OPS+ and was worth 0.8 bWAR. His lasting impression as a Cub came on August 28th when the catcher recorded 7 RBI’s going 3-5 with two home runs and a double, placing him tied for second with Wilson Contreras and Geovanny Soto for most RBI’s in a single game by a Cubs catcher (Barry Foote and George Mitterwald share the record with eight).

Jacob Webb arrives as a familiar face for fellow newcomer Hoby Milner, as both spent the 2025 season in the Texas Rangers' bullpen. Webb comes to the Cubs with five years of experience, spending parts of six seasons with Atlanta, the Angels, Baltimore, and Texas. Webb is coming off an excellent three year stretch where the 32-year-old righty has a 3.22 ERA in 169 games. Last season, Webb finished with a 3 ERA in 66 innings, striking out 58 and walking 19. The California native adds more depth, an area of emphasis for the Cubs this offseason, along with eight games of postseason experience.

The Cubs continue to bolster their major and minor league rosters ahead of a 2026 campaign fueled by high expectations. With space remaining on the 40-man roster and financial flexibility for a high-profile addition, the front office is positioning the team for a deep playoff run and a potential World Series berth in 2026.