SF Giants remain largely unsettled at catcher in 2027

If the season started tomorrow, Daniel Susac and Drew Cavanaugh would likely handle catching duties. That said, it is a position that remains without a concrete answer.

Jesús Rodríguez would be in the mix as well, but his defense is still very much a work in progress. He has experience at a few defensive positions, but without a true home. That said, the Giants are extremely light on catching options, so he is in the mix.

The Giants like Rodríguez’s contact skills, so he has an edge in that regard. His role in 2027 may be as a utility bat who can play a few different positions, including catcher.

Andrew Knizner is eligible for arbitration as well. However, with the roster crunch looming, his roster spot may be vulnerable. They could non-tender Knizner and bring him back on a non-guaranteed deal.

The catching situation for the SF Giants could even continue to play out into next season

At this point in time, Susac and Cavanaugh seem like the primary options. The Giants will likely add to the mix, even if it is a veteran player on a minor league deal.

Susac got off to an incredible start in 2026. It is hard to draw up a better major league debut than the one he had. He tallied three his in as many at-bats in a 7-2 win over the New York Mets.

The hits continued to fall for the rookie catcher for the next couple of weeks. He landed on the injured list and was not quite the same after that.

Overall, Susac slashed .243/.289/.375 (84 wRC+) with three home runs, 22 RBI, and 11 runs in 161 plate appearances. While the offense declined as the season progressed, he certainly has the defensive edge. Susac put up 6 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and 8 Fielding Run Value (FRV) behind the plate.

On the other hand, Drew Cavanaugh was one of the biggest surprises of the year. As the catching depth on the major league roster struggled, he forced a promotion with his performance in the upper minors.

The left-handed bat put up a .229/.315/.292 line (77 wRC+) with one home run, 12 RBI, and nine runs in 166 plate appearances. While he displayed modest power in the minors, that did not play out in his rookie campaign. Cavanaugh only recorded six extra-base hits in a Giants uniform.

That said, Cavanaugh also displayed some of the best plate discipline on a team that was too lean on that trait. This came with a 30.1 percent strikeout rate.

Cavanaugh did not grade out as well as Susac on defense. He recorded -3 DRS and -1 FRV, both of which suggest a slightly below-average defender.

Even if Susac is likely viewed as the frontrunner, there is no clear-cut answer today as to whether either are part of the solution in 2027. Susac has the defensive edge, but Cavanaugh offered a better at-bat quality. This competition will play out in spring training, but it could continue to play out into the season, as the situation is fluid.

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