Buster Posey explains why Giants traded catcher Patrick Bailey to Guardians
Giants' president Buster Posey speaks to reporters ahead of San Francisco's matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night at Oracle Park.
Buster Posey explains why Giants traded catcher Patrick Bailey to Guardians originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
Buster, it, it's kind of been an interesting, situation in catcher all year with having the best defensive catcher in the game, but very little offensive production.
What kind of prompted this move?
Yeah, I mean, I think it's, it's more the confidence that we have in, Jess Rodriguez and Daniel Susac, and just the strides that we feel like as an organization they've made defensively.
you know, both of them swinging the bat well.
And, you know, as you, as you noted, not necessarily only Patty who's, you know, been off to a slow start offensively this year, but just as a whole, trying to find ways to get more runs on the board.
How did Bailey take the news when you guys kind of told him?
He was a pro.
I mean, he was a pro this whole last week, you know, with, with not even, starting like he normally does.
And, yeah, just a, just a pro about it.
Can you tell us a little bit about how it came about, Buster, when the conversation started, when you kind of had a deal, all that?
I mean, I think I'll probably keep the, those details to myself.
I don't know how, how much that really benefits anybody.
but I will say there was a lot of interest.
Given the fact that you have s- two pretty un- inexperienced catchers on the roster now, could you see sticking with a three catcher potential roster?
I, possibly.
but I don't think that's necessarily a, a guarantee either.
You know, we've got some guys on the IL that'll be coming off, and we'll have to make some decisions there.
I, I do think having a guy like Hoss is extremely valuable in your organization and on the 26-man roster, wherever it may be.
but kind of like I, I answered, I guess, in your first question, the aptitude that we feel like that Susac and Rodriguez have, you know, every player's gonna have mistakes that they make.
We feel like these guys, will, will be quick learners from mistakes that they make.
What can you tell us about Tedford?
I mean, I'm a big fan.
Obviously, or we, we you know, wouldn't have traded for him.
But, first thing that stands out to me is, is, and this is just me on video and then listening to our scouts, but is the compete.
You know, the com- the, the, the way he moves down the mound, he's very, moves down the mound very athletically.
he's I think I saw it written today, somebody said it's the invisible, but, you know, that comes from deception and comes from arm, arm angle and creating spin.
The upshoot fastball that when I played we used to say it had good carry, now it's the vert, you know?
And with the combo of the deception.
So, I'm excited about him.
I know he's off to a great start this year and, and hopefully he's gonna keep that going with us now.
even, you know, as you praise, you know, Jess and Daniel, these are two guys that have maybe 50 combined plate appearances at the Major League level.
Just how do you ensure that, you know, the task isn't too big for these guys?
You know, especially now getting with a Major League veteran pitching staff.
again, I think it goes back to evaluations from, you know, all the way back to spring, a little bit of Jess last year.
as we did our homework with Daniel, before we took him in the Rule 5 draft.
you're, you're, you're making a, a, a That's not the right word.
That's not what I want to use.
you're using the assessments to say we believe that they can handle, the challenges and rigors of being a Major League catcher.
where is Mr. Bote going to report?
Double-A.
Okay, cool.
and do you think he's going to continue developing as a starting pitcher?
Yes.
You guys- And then Oh, go ahead.
you guys also got the comp pick, obviously.
Just what do you think about the way the draft is now shaping up for you guys, having the, the fourth overall pick, now this extra draft, like, comp pick?
Just what can you say about the magnitude of this event now?
Yeah, it's exciting.
I mean, all the faith in the world in our, amateur scouting department with Michael Holmes leading that up.
as you, you mentioned, we, we kind of found some luck with the fourth pick, and now being able to add the 29th, we're gonna have some access to some, some really talented players, so it should be, should be good.
And Buster, the catching position's obviously very special to you.
knowing the value of the defense and what you have to do as part of the lineup, that component of it as well, just how did you evaluate Patrick's time with the Giants?
And maybe, you know, offensively he didn't kind of become the player you guys envisioned, but just, you know, w- who are you saying goodbye to?
Yeah, it's a guy that we've watched now, I guess, for four years, three and some change, I guess.
And, continued to work on his craft.
I mean, to, to be lauded, as a supreme defensive catcher early on as he was, he kept working at it and he's continuing to work at it.
And, somebody that I think at a young age that, like we're hoping for, for Rodriguez and Susac, can gain the confidence of the pitching staff.
and I'm sure he would tell you, too, you know, he, he knows there's more in there offensively.
I don't think you guys have tried pitch calling from the dugout or anything like that yet, but, I mean, do you think that there might be a little bit more openness to it if you kind of move forward with these two rookie catchers, just to maybe take a little bit off their plate moving forward?
It's nothing we've talked about to this point.
You guys also put Logan on the IL, obviously.
Just what's his outlook looking like right now?
Yeah, I think it was That, that was a tough I shouldn't speak for Logan.
I, I don't know if you guys have talked to him.
I'm assuming you have talked to him.
Um- We haven't.
Not yet.
Yeah.
it, it was, I think that was a tough call, something that's been nagging him for a while.
Really want him just to, to, to feel like he can go out and compete the way we all know he, he can compete without something nagging him.
So, optimistic that it's gonna be a short stint.
This may be kind of a tough hypothetical, but do you imagine if you were getting more from some of the people you expected to get more from in your offense, that you could go forward with, with Bailey knowing the value he brings defensively?
Or is it, did it just become a little less tolerable to have his bat in the lineup that's last in the league in runs scored?
Yeah, I, it's a tough, like you said, it's a tough hypothetical.
It's, it's hard to say.
I, I, again, I think more so than, you know, detracting, I guess, from some of the shortcomings ba- for Bailey offensively, I'd rather just focus on, you know, Jess swinging the bat well in triple A, and then Daniel with a, a nice start here.
And, you know, hopefully that's some momentum that they can carry going forward.
