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1h ago

Guardians Acquire Gold Glove Catcher Patrick Bailey From Giants

The move underscores Cleveland's bet on elite catcher defense over offense.

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Giants catcher Eric Haase, in his ninth season in the major leagues, catches a pitch during a spring training game against the Chicago Cubs in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Feb. 22.
Giants utility man Jesus Rodriguez claps as he crosses home plate after hitting his first major league home run in the seventh inning Tuesday against the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park.

Overview

  • Cleveland traded for two-time Gold Glove winner Patrick Bailey on Saturday, then optioned catcher Bo Naylor to Triple-A Columbus to open a roster spot.
  • San Francisco received left-handed pitching prospect Matt Wilkinson and the No. 29 pick in the 2026 draft, a Competitive Balance Round A selection that MLB allows teams to trade and that boosts the Giants’ bonus-pool money.
  • The Guardians plan to pair Bailey with veteran Austin Hedges to form a defense-first catching tandem for an AL Central leader that leans on pitching and run prevention.
  • Bailey is regarded as an elite framer and game-caller but is in a deep slump this year at .146/.213/.183 over 89 plate appearances, though he remains under team control through 2029.
  • After moving Bailey, the Giants will turn to Jesús Rodríguez and, when healthy, Daniel Susac at catcher with Eric Haase in reserve, reflecting a shift toward younger bats and added draft capital.