Get ready for some exciting baseball news! The Mariners are in talks with free agent catcher Andrew Knizner, and it's a deal that could shake things up.
According to Chris Cotillo, the Mariners are negotiating with Knizner, and if they reach an agreement, he might just be the backup catcher for Cal Raleigh. But here's where it gets interesting...
Knizner has had an eventful 2025 season. He started with the Nationals in Triple-A but was released in May. He quickly signed with the Giants and joined their MLB roster. However, with a two-time Gold Glove winner on the team, Knizner's playing time was limited, except for a brief stint as the starting catcher when his teammate suffered a neck strain.
At 30 years old (turning 31 in February), Knizner has made 28 starts in 32 appearances behind the plate. His batting average stands at .221/.299/.299 with one home run. With experience across seven MLB seasons with the Cardinals, Rangers, and Giants, Knizner has a career batting line of .211/.281/.316 in nearly 1000 plate appearances. Interestingly, his numbers are much better at the Triple-A level, with a .292/.387/.443 mark.
Defensively, Knizner has caught over 2200 major league innings. While his early career defensive grades were not impressive, with public metrics not favoring his pitch framing, he has improved in the last two seasons. His arm strength is average, and he has thrown out 16.4% of baserunners in the last four years, which is below average.
The Giants decided not to offer Knizner a contract for his final year of arbitration, with MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projecting a salary of $1.3MM. The Giants want to give rookie Jesus Rodriguez a chance to win the backup catcher role. Meanwhile, the Mariners are in need of a second catcher, as Mitch Garver is a free agent, and they recently traded rookie Harry Ford for lefty reliever Jose A. Ferrer.
With over five years of MLB service, Knizner cannot be sent to the minors without his consent. If he signs a big league deal, he will likely be the #2 catcher for the Mariners. The team might continue to explore depth options through waivers or minor league free agency, but it's not a position they need to invest heavily in, given Raleigh's almost daily presence in the lineup as a catcher or designated hitter.
So, what do you think? Is Knizner a good fit for the Mariners? Will he be able to secure the backup catcher role? And this is the part most people miss... the impact of these moves on the team's overall strategy and performance. Let's discuss in the comments!
View Comments (12)
