The Cleveland Guardians have acquired catcher Patrick Bailey from the San Francisco Giants, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The Giants will receive left-handed pitching prospect Matt Wilkinson and the 29th overall pick of the 2026 draft (Competitive Balance Round A).
Key Details
- Bailey has won the last two Fielding Bible Awards and NL Gold Glove Awards, noted for his elite defensive skills.
- The Guardians will option catcher Bo Naylor to the minor leagues to make room for Bailey on the active roster.
- The Giants are calling up catcher Logan Porter from Triple-A to take Bailey’s spot on the active roster, maintaining a three-catcher depth chart for now.
Background
- Offensive struggles: Bailey has a career slash line of .224/.282/.329 over 1,342 plate appearances. In 2026, he has hit .146/.213/.183 in 89 plate appearances.
- Giants’ record: The Giants’ 2026 record is 15-23, tied for the fewest wins in MLB.
- Contract control: The Guardians have control over Bailey through the 2029 season; he is not yet arbitration-eligible.
- Prospect profile: Wilkinson, a 10th-round pick in 2023, has a 1.59 ERA in 28.1 innings at Double-A Akron in 2026. He is not ranked among Cleveland’s top 30 prospects by Baseball America or MLB Pipeline.