Chicago Cubs rumors: Yuniesky Betancourt could be option for North Siders

Theo Epstein and the Chicago Cubs reportedly have interest in signing free agent infielder Yuniesky Betancourt to a contract, according to ESPN Chicago's Jesse Rogers.

With shortstop occupied by Starlin Castro from the next seven years, the Cubs would likely be looking at Betancourt as either a utility infielder or as a third baseman. Betancourt has played just 58 career innings at third base and spent most of the 2012 season at second base for the Royals before eventually being released on Aug. 14.

Though he appeared in just 57 games in 2012, Betancourt was one of the worst players in all of baseball, posting an fWAR of -0.8. Only 13 players in baseball were worse than Betancourt in 2012 -- and most had at least 300 plate appearances. Betancourt hit a meager .228/.258/.400 with seven home runs in 228 plate appearances in 2012.

Betancourt spent the first four and a half years of his career with the Seattle Mariners before being traded to the Royals in 2009. Betancourt was traded by Kansas City in December 2010, along with Zack Greinke, to the Milwaukee Brewers, where he spent one season before returning to the Royals as a free agent prior to the 2012 season.