Will the SF Giants have a competition for backup catcher in spring training?

There may not be too many camp battles taking place for the SF Giants this spring. Perhaps, one that could be emerging is quite possibly the most exciting battle in any camp: Backup catcher.

Will the SF Giants have a competition for backup catcher in spring training?

The excitement from everyone is palpable. However, there could be a sense of competition building. The Giants will enter spring training with Patrick Bailey as the starter behind the dish. They do need a reliable backup to offload some of his games and help him from wearing down as the season progresses.

Reliable is probably not the word I would associate with any of the options but they all bring something to the table. At this point, they have Tom Murphy, Sam Huff, and Max Stassi.

The Giants just added Huff on a waiver claim from the Texas Rangers. He is out of minor league options, so he will need to make the Opening Day roster or they will need to place him on waivers. Huff also represents the first waiver claim made by the Giants since Buster Posey took over as team president of baseball operations.

The prior regime was about as aggressive on the waiver wire as any team in baseball. They had some successes with this strategy while attempting to build organizational depth by passing many of those players through waivers. The Giants have not been aggressive on this front since Posey took over. Perhaps, a sign that they view Huff as a legitimate roster option.

Of course, Murphy has missed considerable time in recent seasons due to injury. The Giants knew this when they signed him to a two-year, $8.25 million deal. His first season with San Francisco was well within the range of outcomes as he missed much of the year after sustaining a season-ending knee injury.

When healthy, Murphy is a below-average receiver with some offensive upside, especially against left-handed pitching. The Giants hoped that he would be a natural complement to the switch-hitting Bailey. Bailey has generally been a better hitter from the left side in the minors.

Murphy's injury history has likely given the Giants enough reason to add some competition to the mix. They added Max Stassi earlier in the offseason to a minor league deal with a camp invite. Even if he does not make the club, the Northern California native will be close to home in Sacramento.

Similar to Murphy, Stassi has missed considerable time in recent seasons, appearing in only five rehab games since the start of 2023. He has dealt with both personal and injury matters during that time. When healthy, Stassi is an excellent defensive catcher but does not offer much with the bat.

Oftentimes, there is a noticeable drop off in defense when the backup catcher plays. However, the drop off would not be quite as steep going from Bailey to Stassi as it would be with many backup catchers.

Lastly, Huff is now in the mix. As mentioned, he does not have any options remaining and there is a good chance that the front office claimed him with purpose. Huff might be the most well-rounded catcher of the backup options. He is adequate defensively, makes a lot of loud contact, and hits with power. This does come with a high strikeout rate but he can do some damage when he makes contact.

While Murphy likely has the inside track given the financial commitment, it does feel like the front office has some level of unease in terms of what they can expect. Huff and Stassi should create some competition for a role that can quietly make a nice impact.