Giants Make Trade With Guardians on Saturday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Oscar Martines | Last updated May 9, 2026 3:52 PM ET

The San Francisco Giants have traded catcher Patrick Bailey to the Cleveland Guardians. The Giants will receive the No. 29 draft pick in the 2026 MLB draft and pitching prospect Matt Wilkinson.

As a result of the trade, the Guardians are optioning catcher Bo Naylor to Triple-A Columbus. Naylor had played 23 this season for the Guardians as a backstop.

Bailey was drafted by the Giants in the 2020 MLB draft but wouldn't make his debut until the 2023 MLB season. In his first season in the Bay Area, he recorded a .233 batting average, connecting with seven homeruns and 48 RBIs.

BREAKING: The Cleveland Guardians are acquiring two-time Gold Glove-winning catcher Patrick Bailey in a trade with the San Francisco Giants for the No. 29 pick in this year's draft and left-handed pitching prospect Matt "Tugboat" Wilkinson, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 9, 2026

His best season performance came in the 2024 MLB season, where he recorded a season-high .234 batting average. Bailey also connected with a season-high eight home runs and 46 RBIs.

Bailey's standout performance in the 2024 MLB season led to the catcher winning his first Gold Glove Award. He became the fourth catcher to win the award with the Giants.

Bailey would make history during the 2025 MLB season by becoming the first player in MLB history to record a walk-off inside-the-park home run and a walk-off grand slam in a single season. He would put a stamp on the season as he would win the Gold Glove Award for the second time in his career.

In the 2026 MLB season, Bailey played 30 games, hitting a .146 batting average, including one home run and five RBIs. Despite his best attempts to help the team, the Giants have struggled to make an impact this season, with the team currently in last place in the NL West.

Through a text message with Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area, Bailey expressed his gratitude to the organization for his time as a Giant. "(I'm) super grateful for the Giants organization giving me many opportunities to play this game and the incredible support from the fans for me and my family," Bailey said. (h/t Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area)

San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello (23) walks towards the dugout after making a pitching change© Scott Marshall-Imagn Images

With Bailey making his way over to Cleveland, pitching prospect Wilkinson will make his way over to the Bay Area. Wilkinson was drafted by the Guardians in the 2023 MLB draft but has yet to make his official MLB debut.

While playing in Double-A Akron this season, Wilkinson's pitching prowess was on full display. He posted a 1.59 ERA, including 36 strikeouts, in six games playing as a starter.

With the addition of Bailey to the roster, the Guardians will look to extend their lead at the top of the AL Central.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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