Cleveland Guardians Acquire Two-Time Gold Glove Catcher Patrick Bailey From Giants

The Cleveland Guardians acquired two-time Gold Glove winner Patrick Bailey from the San Francisco Giants on Saturday morning, the teams announced. Cleveland is sending San Francisco the No. 29 overall selection in this year's draft, left-handed pitching prospect Matt Wilkinson and $3.27 million in slot value.

Bailey, 26, is known primarily for his defense after posting plus-20 and plus-19 marks in defensive runs saved over the last two seasons, according to Fangraphs.

To make room for Bailey on the 26-man roster, the Guardians sent catcher Bo Naylor to Triple-A Columbus. Bailey will join Austin Hedges and David Fry as part of a three-person catching group for Cleveland. The Guardians lead the American League Central and stand at 21-19. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games.

and Offensive Struggles

Bailey has won the National League Gold Glove and the Fielding Bible Award in each of the past two seasons, cementing his reputation as one of the sport's top defensive catchers. He has thrown out seven of 28 runners attempting to steal bases this season.

329 slugging percentage across 383 games. 183 with one home run and five RBIs in 30 games this year. The Guardians hope Bailey's glove work will strengthen their defense behind the plate, where Bo Naylor and Austin Hedges have split time and posted caught-stealing percentages in the single digits.

this season, he has a 1-2 record with a 1.59 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in 28.1 innings over six starts. The Giants will use a combination of Rule 5 selection Daniel Susac and young rookie prospect Jesus Rodriguez behind the plate. Susac is currently on the injured list.

Bailey will not be eligible for free agency until 2030, adding to his value for a Guardians club built around pitching and defense rather than offensive firepower. " — Forbes contributor Bernie Pleskoff, May 9 2026 (Forbes) The deal surprised some observers given Bailey's strong defensive metrics and the Guardians' recent play, including a 6-4 victory over the Twins on Friday night.