Giants trade catcher Patrick Bailey to Cleveland for prospect, pick
With Rule-5 player Daniel Susac and recent call-up Jesus Rodriguez showing enormous promise, the San Francisco Giants traded away two-time Gold Glove catcher Patrick Bailey on Saturday morning.
The Giants sent Bailey, one of the elite pitch-framers in the game but offensively challenged, to Cleveland in exchange for minor-league pitcher Matt Wilkinson and the 29th pick in the amateur draft, the Guardians' competitive-balance round selection.
Bailey, 26, was the Giants' top pick in the 2020 draft and he earned Gold Gloves in each of his first full big-league seasons.
"We're beyond excited to get him!" Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt, the former A's and Giants catcher, said in a text.
With Rodriguez demonstrating he can hit big-league pitching after getting called up Monday and with Susac doing the same before landing on the injured list with an elbow issue, and both adequate behind the plate, San Francisco - in last place in the NL West and at the bottom of most offensive categories - decided to move on from Bailey, who is batting .146 with a .396 OPS.
"I'm super grateful for the Giants organization giving me so many opportunities to play this game and the incredible support from the fans for me and my family," Bailey said in a text to the Chronicle.
Even with the introduction of the ABS system, Bailey has remained a big plus behind the plate, with the top framing numbers in the game and one of the best arms. He is at the top of Statcast's Fielding Run Value ranks with a plus-6.
Rodriguez, who has caught and played right since getting called up, is batting .455 (5-for-11 with a home run), Susac .478 (11-for-23, 1.152 OPS). Susac is 5-for-8 with two homers in the first two games of his rehab assignment Triple-A Sacramento and is eligible to come off the IL whenever he's ready.
Also on the major-league roster is catcher Eric Haase, a nine-year veteran who's appeared in four games since being called up last month amid Susac's injury. He's 3-for-10 with two doubles and an .800 OPS.
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This story was originally published May 9, 2026 at 10:43 AM.