The San Francisco Giants have decided to part ways with their one-sided catcher Patrick Bailey.
The two-time Gold Glove winning catcher will be shipped to the Guardians for left-handed pitching prospect Matt Wilkinson (who’s nickname is reportedly “Tugboat”) and the 29th overall pick in the 2026 draft.
If Wilkinson is a tugboat, then Bailey has been a bottomless boat, and if you’re a boat, you need a bottom to float, no matter the cut of your jib.
During his brief career, Bailey has been lopsided as they come: an elite defender behind the dish and a black hole to either side of it.
Over 89 PA, Bailey has slashed .146/ .213/ .183 with a league low -11 batting run value, according to Baseball Savant. His bat has been so bad, he’s seen his playing time reduced considerably, even with Rule-5 pick Daniel Susac on the IL. But with the arrival of front office darling Jesus Rodriguez, acquired from the Yankees in the Camilo Doval trade, and Susac starting a rehab assignment in Triple-A, Buster Posey has decided the Giants, in an offensive winter of their own, can’t afford to haul Bailey’s dead-weight bat around. Runs scored is the priority over runs prevented now. Bailey’s 6 fielding RV (99th percentile) just does not make up for a -11 batting RV (1st percentile).
Meanwhile both Susac (11 for 23) and Rodriguez (5-for-11) have shown early promise at the plate and profile as an obvious upgrade offensively.
It’s another aggressive move by Posey that probably caused him a certain level of pain. Bailey’s leadership behind the dish will certainly be missed by the pitching staff, but desperate times call for desperate measures.