The Seattle Mariners bolstered one of their biggest needs when they acquired left-handed high-leverage reliever Jose Ferrer from the Washington Nationals. What the Mariners gave up in the trade opened up another hole on the roster.

By trading for Ferrer, Seattle gave up top 100 prospect and catcher Harry Ford to the Nationals.

The Mariners don't have a need for a starting catcher. Cal Raleigh, fresh off his first career All-Star selection, hit 60 home runs this past season, which set the MLB single-season record for most homers by a catcher and switch-hitter.

Seattle did need a backup for Raleigh. Mitch Garver, who's sat behind Raleigh for the last two seasons, hit free agency and Ford was expected to step into that role.

Mariners executives expressed a desire to find a major league and minor league catcher with Ford now with Washington, and they have found their backup major league backstop.

According to a report from Seattle Times reporter Adam Jude (via an initial report from Mass Live's Chris Cotillo), Seattle is closing in on a deal with veteran catcher Andrew Knizner.

No deal has been signed as of Friday afternoon (Dec. 12) according to Jude's report.

Knizner is a seven-year major league veteran. He made his major league debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2019 and remained there until 2023. He spent '24 with the Texas Rangers and this past season with the San Francisco Giants.

While with San Francisco, Knizner scored 12 runs in 33 games and hit a double, triple and a home run with five RBIs. He slashed .221/.299/.299 with a .598 OPS.

Knizner has been a career backup in his career. The most he's played in a two-season span was 167 games with the Cardinals from 2022-23.

For his career, Knizner has scored 101 runs in 326 games and has hit 33 doubles, a triple and 19 homers with 90 RBIs. He has a career slash line of .211/.281/.316 with a .597 OPS.

Knizner is out of minor league options, which would prevent the Mariners from moving him freely from the minor leagues to the major leagues without first designating him for assignment and opening up other teams to claim him.

Knizner would be the only catcher on Seattle's major league roster aside from Raleigh, which would make him the de facto backup.

Blake Hunt, who spent most of this past season with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, is a free agent, leaving the Mariners still in need of a designated minor league catcher.

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