Who Is Andrew Knizner?
Andrew Knizner is a professional baseball catcher who has spent parts of seven seasons in Major League Baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, and San Francisco Giants.[1] Known more for his defense and game‑calling than his bat, he has appeared in over 300 MLB games and built a reputation as a steady, team‑first backup.
Offensively, Knizner owns a career batting average a little above .210 with 19 home runs and 90 runs batted in, with his most productive season coming in 2023 for St. Louis when he hit .241 with double‑digit homers in a part‑time role.[1] Teams have continued to value his experience managing pitching staffs, blocking, and framing, attributes that often matter more than raw offensive numbers in a reserve catcher.
Mariners Rumored Deal and Roster Impact
Recent reporting indicates that the Seattle Mariners are closing in on a deal with Andrew Knizner to serve as the primary backup to star catcher Cal Raleigh.[1] Industry and local sources describe the talks as advanced, with the expectation that Knizner would receive a major league contract and immediately slot into the number‑two catching role.[1][2]
The move comes after Seattle traded top catching prospect Harry Ford to the Washington Nationals for left‑handed reliever Jose Ferrer, leaving a clear opening behind Raleigh on the depth chart.[1] By pursuing Knizner, the Mariners aim to stabilize the position with a veteran whom they can trust to handle a contending staff and reduce the physical burden on Raleigh over a long season.
Why Andrew Knizner Matters to Seattle Now
For the Mariners, adding Andrew Knizner would be less about upside and more about certainty. Analysts note that Raleigh has carried one of the heaviest workloads among catchers while also providing elite power production, making a competent backup essential to preserve his health and late‑season performance.[1] Knizner’s profile as a defense‑first veteran fits that need, even if his bat is closer to league average for reserve catchers.
Some commentary from Seattle‑focused outlets questions whether Knizner is the ideal solution, pointing to his modest offensive numbers and suggesting the club might be settling for a low‑ceiling option.[2] However, supporters of the move argue that on a roster built around pitching and anchored at catcher by an All‑Star, a steady backup who can manage games, work with pitchers, and provide quiet reliability can have an outsized impact on a playoff push.[1][2]