The Seattle Mariners might be one of the best teams in the Major Leagues when it comes to catcher talent last season. Cal Raleigh was nothing short of remarkable, and Harry Ford was an incredible top prospect waiting in the wings.
But, with Ford heading to join the Washington Nationals in a trade for Jose Ferrer, the Mariners needed to secure a new backup catcher to spell Raleigh in 2026.
As the Mariners announced, they agreed to terms on a free agent deal for a former St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants catcher, Andrew Knizner.
Mariners sign ex-Giants, Cardinals catcher to backup Cal Raleigh
Knizner is a 30-year-old veteran who's spent the better part of seven seasons in the Major Leagues with the Cardinals.
From 2019 until 2023, Knizner played with the Cardinals, appearing in 255 games, recording 1.5 bWAR with a.215 batting average and a.621 OPS.
During the 2024 season, Knizner took a trip to join the Texas Rangers, where he had -0.9 bWAR in 35 games thanks to a.167 batting average and a.394 OPS.
He did bounce back in 2025 when he joined the Giants, recording a.221 average with a.598 OPS in 33 games for San Francisco last season. His 0.3 bWAR wasn't the best, but it was the third-best season of his career so far.
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Knizner isn't the best catcher in the Majors, but as the backup to Raleigh, he only needs to play a few games every season to give Raleigh a rest day from sitting behind home plate.
If he can provide decent play, even if not anything beyond his Giants season in 2025, then this signing wouldn't be the worst. The fear is that Knizner performs as he did in 2024 for the Rangers.
But if such a situation begins to unfold, the Mariners could easily find a replacement by cutting Knizner and signing another veteran free agent or trading for a new backup.
For now, Raleigh will have Knizner behind him as catching depth, with the Mariners expected to continue adding to their lineup as the offseason progresses.
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