NRIs: catchers

The Giants find themselves well-stocked in the catching department. Buster Posey, one of last season’s more notable opt-outs, is back for 2021 and will presumably start the bulk of the games. Capable backup Curt Casali is signed and will get plenty of opportunities. The no. 1 prospect in the organization, 2018 1st round pick (#2 overall) Joey Bart, waits in the wings. Bart struggled in his (rushed) debut last season, but will get more than enough chances in AAA this summer to force his way back on the 26-man roster. Last year’s surprise Chadwick Tromp is still on the 40-man roster and will probably be Bart’s teammate.

Much was made of the fact that the Giants selected another catcher, Patrick Bailey, in the 1st round (#13) of the 2020 draft. Bailey played at NC State but because of the pandemic has had no opportunity to play pro ball. I don’t think it means the Giants have given up on Bart or intend to trade him, just that catchers are really important and when you can acquire premium catching talent you do it. Bailey turns 22 in May and will likely open the season at San Jose (low-A).

The other NRI backstop joining Bailey is international free agent Ricardo Genoves. The Giants signed him as a 17-year old in Venezuela and he advanced to A-level in 2019. He’s built like a catcher: 6′-2″ and 254 lbs. Genoves comes from a baseball family and is noted for his “intangibles.” He also turns 22 in May.

This is Buster’s last season under contract (the team has a buyout option for 2022). Posey has said publicly he wants to stay in San Francisco but nothing has happened on that front. I suspect they’ll wait to see how healthy and productive he is this season before making an offer to keep him around. He’s a franchise icon–the greatest catcher in team history–and the last link to the 2010 championship team. Bruce Bochy and Madison Bumgarner both moved on and the same could happen with Buster, but I think things might be different this time. Buster has a unique appeal that goes beyond Giants fans, and it would be a PR disaster to have him walk away. Plus they will have lots of payroll flexibility after this season!

–M.C.

p.s. I mentioned in the comments yesterday that the Giants signed RHP Aaron Sanchez to a major league deal ($4M+ incentives). This suggest to me that Logan Webb will get more seasoning in Sacramento. Gausman, Cueto, DeSclafani, Wood, and Sanchez seem like the Obvious Five. Maybe Webb will stick around as a swing man (“bulk guy” in Kap-speak).