The Mariners are closing in on a deal to bring veteran catcher Andrew Knizner aboard on a Major League contract, according to sources. While the deal isn’t official just yet - it’s still pending a physical - this move would bring Seattle’s 40-man roster to 39 and signals that the front office isn’t done adding, particularly when it comes to bullpen depth.
This signing is about more than just filling a roster spot. It’s a strategic response to a ripple effect that started when the Mariners traded top catching prospect Harry Ford and Minor League pitcher Isaac Lyon to the Nationals last week in exchange for lefty reliever Jose A.
Ferrer. That deal helped address the bullpen, but it left a clear need behind the plate - specifically, a reliable No. 2 to back up All-Star Cal Raleigh.
Knizner fits that bill. He won’t be asked to carry the offense - and with Raleigh logging more innings than any catcher in the American League last season, he won’t be asked to carry the workload either. What the Mariners need is a steady, experienced presence behind the dish, and Knizner brings that to the table.
Last season, Knizner saw limited action with the Giants before being designated for assignment in November and electing free agency. In 33 games, he posted a .221/.299/.299 slash line with one homer and five RBIs across 88 plate appearances.
The offensive numbers aren’t eye-popping - his 73 wRC+ and 0.2 WAR (per FanGraphs) reflect that - but his role in Seattle isn’t about lighting up the scoreboard. It’s about stability, game management, and giving Raleigh a breather when needed.
Defensively, Knizner’s metrics were a mixed bag in 2024. Statcast had him in the 22nd percentile in blocks above average and 10th percentile in pop time to second base. Over the past four seasons, he’s thrown out 16.4% of attempted basestealers - below league average - but his 2,286 innings of big-league experience behind the plate still carry value, especially for a team looking to shore up depth.
Knizner, who turns 31 in early February, is no stranger to the league. He broke in with the Cardinals in 2019 and spent five seasons in St.
Louis before a brief stint with Texas in 2024 and then San Francisco. His familiarity with the Mariners’ front office from his time in Texas likely helped pave the way for this move.
Still, the Mariners aren’t stopping here. General manager Justin Hollander made it clear during the Winter Meetings that the team plans to continue building out catching depth at the upper levels of the Minors. That’s a nod to the future - and to Luke Stevenson in particular.
Stevenson, the club’s first pick in last July’s MLB Draft (No. 35 overall), is a key part of Seattle’s long-term catching plans. At 21 years old and coming off two seasons at the University of North Carolina, he’s more polished than most prospects his age.
Some scouts even believe he has a higher ceiling than Ford. Stevenson is currently ranked as the Mariners’ No. 9 prospect in a farm system that MLB Pipeline ranks third overall.
But even with Stevenson’s upside, the Mariners aren’t banking on him being MLB-ready by 2026. That’s why moves like signing Knizner matter. They buy time, add experience, and give the organization flexibility as they continue to develop their next wave of talent.
In short, this is a smart, low-risk addition for a team that’s carefully threading the needle between contending now and building for what’s next.