The Cleveland Guardians are acquiring San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey in exchange for the No. 29 pick in this year’s MLB Draft and left-handed pitching prospect Matt Wilkinson, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported on Saturday.
The Guardians will option Bo Naylor to Triple-A Columbus, according to The Athletic’s Zack Meisel. Naylor’s served as Cleveland’s starting backstop 23 games this season. He’s slashing just .143/.200/.238.
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Bailey, 26, has won a Gold Glove each of the past two seasons, but he hasn’t fared much better at the plate this season. In fact, his batting average sits at .146 at the moment, and he’s a career .224 hitter.
The reported trade arrives less than two months into the 2026 campaign. The Giants have struggled in the first season of the Tony Vitello era. They’re 15-23, including 2-8 in their past 10 games, and in last place in the NL West.
The Guardians, on the other hand, are atop the AL Central standings at 21-19. They’re now adding one of the best defensive catchers in the game.
This story is being updated.