The Guardians’ defense just got a huge boost.
The American League Central leaders acquired two-time Gold Glove winner Patrick Bailey in a trade with the Giants, the teams announced Saturday morning.
Cleveland is sending San Francisco the No. 29 pick in this year’s draft and lefty pitching prospect Matt Wilkinson.
San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey has been traded to the Cleveland Guardians IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect San Francisco will also receive $3.27 million in slot value in the deal, according to ESPN.
Bailey, 26, is known for his defense, winning the NL Gold Glove in each of the last two seasons.
He posted plus-20 and plus-19 marks in defensive runs saved, according to Fangraphs, over the last two seasons, respectively.
He’s not much of an offensive option, though.
Bailey owns a career .224 average with a .282 on-base percentage and .329 slugging percentage, never producing a league-average season as measured by OPS+.
He’s enduring the worst offensive season of his four-year career this campaign, slashing .146/.213/.183 with one homer and five RBIs in 30 games.
The Guardians (21-19) are hoping that Bailey will improve their defense and perhaps can find a way to get more value from his bat.
Patrick Bailey is a two-time Gold Glove winner. Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images Bo Naylor and Austin Hedges have split time for Cleveland at catcher thus far, with both posting a caught-stealing percentage in the single digits.
The Guardians are 6-4 in their last 10 games and beat the Twins, 6-4, on Friday night.
They’ll host Minnesota for two more games before welcoming the Angels to town Monday.
