The Seattle Mariners are nearing a Major League contract agreement with veteran catcher Andrew Knizner to serve as backup to Cal Raleigh in 2026. The deal, pending a physical, addresses the team's need for catching depth after trading prospect Harry Ford. Knizner brings seven seasons of MLB experience to the 40-man roster.
The Seattle Mariners are working toward finalizing a Major League contract with free agent catcher Andrew Knizner, sources reported on Friday night. The agreement, still pending a physical, would add the 30-year-old veteran—turning 31 on February 3—to the team's 40-man roster, bringing it to 39 players. Seattle continues to seek bullpen depth amid offseason moves.
This signing comes after the Mariners traded catching prospect Harry Ford and minor league pitcher Isaac Lyon to the Washington Nationals for left-handed reliever Jose A. Ferrer last Saturday. Ford had been third in the catching lineup behind All-Star Cal Raleigh and free agent Mitch Garver, who departed after the postseason. General manager Justin Hollander indicated at the Winter Meetings the need to bolster catching depth, especially with prospect Luke Stevenson, the No. 9 in Seattle's farm system, not expected to be MLB-ready in 2026.
Knizner spent the 2025 season with the San Francisco Giants after starting in Triple-A with the Nationals, where he was released in mid-May. He signed a minor league deal with the Giants and appeared in 33 MLB games, hitting .221/.299/.299 with one home run, one triple, one double, and five RBIs in 88 plate appearances. His 73 wRC+ and 0.2 WAR reflect below-average offense, but the role requires limited production behind Raleigh, who led AL primary catchers with 705 plate appearances and 1,072 innings caught.
Defensively, Knizner has logged 2,286 big-league innings, starting 28 of his 32 appearances in 2025. He ranked in the 22nd percentile for blocks above average (-3) and 10th for pop time (2.00 seconds), per Statcast, while throwing out 16.4% of basestealers over the past four seasons. Previously with the St. Louis Cardinals (2019-2023) and Texas Rangers (2024), Knizner was a seventh-round pick in 2016. The Giants designated him for assignment on November 21, leading to free agency. With over five years of service, he cannot be optioned without consent, positioning him as the presumed No. 2 catcher.