Giants sign old friend Curt Casali to fill catcher vacancy originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – With Patrick Bailey back on the IL, Tom Murphy sidelined for an extended period and their Triple-A call-ups struggling defensively, the Giants are turning to an old friend at catcher.
On Wednesday, they hired Curt Casali, who was Buster Posey’s backup in 2021 and also played 41 games for the Giants in 2022 before being sent within negotiation deadline. Casali was in Triple-A with the Cubs but got a big-league deal with the Giants, who optioned Jakson Reetz and placed Tom Murphy on the 60-day IL to free up roster spots.
#SFGiants List moves:
· C Curt Casali (#18) signed a one-year Major League contract.
· C Jakson Reetz opted for Triple-A Sacramento.
· C Tom Murphy has been transferred to the 60-day injured list.-SFGiants (@SFGiants) May 15, 2024
Casali, 35, struggled in 40 games with the Cincinnati Reds last year, hitting .175 with a .490 OPS, but he was crushing the ball in Triple-A this season. In 23 games, he hit .362 with a 1.039 OPS and a pair of homers.
Bailey went to concussion IL for the second time on Tuesday, and it’s unclear when he will be fully ready to resume baseball activities. Murphy’s knee injury will keep him out for at least a few months.
Casali is the perfect fit, giving Bob Melvin an experienced, reliable defender and player. He was also known as a strong clubhouse presence when he was first in San Francisco, and this struggling team could certainly use a little more in that department.
