The Giants continued stockpiling outfield depth by acquiring outfielder Joey Wiemer from the Miami Marlins for cash considerations on Friday morning, the team announced.
Additionally, catcher Andrew Knizner, who is eligible for arbitration, was designated for assignment ahead of Friday evening’s non-tender deadline. MLB Trade Rumors projected Knizner to make $1.3 million in arbitration.
Wiemer, 26, was designated by assignment by the Marlins earlier this week. He has played for the Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds over parts of three major-league seasons.
During his more than 180 career games in the majors, Wiemer has a .205 batting average and .638 OPS with 16 home runs and 12 steals. A fourth-round pick in the 2020 MLB draft, Wiemer experienced a bit of success in ’23 for the Brewers, hitting 13 homers and stealing 11 bases over 132 games.
The bulk of Wiemer’s value at the major-league level has derived from his defense. Over 178 games in the outfield, Wiemer has been worth 11 defensive runs saved and +7 outs above average. Wiemer boasts a strong arm as well, ranking in the 86th percentile of arm strength, per Baseball Savant, last year.
With the addition of Wiemer, the Giants currently have 10 outfielders on their 40-man roster, a list that also includes Jung Hoo Lee, Heliot Ramos, Justin Dean, Jerar Encarnacion, Drew Gilbert, Marco Luciano, Luis Matos, Grant McCray and Wade Meckler.
In trading for Wiemer and claiming Dean off waivers, the Giants have made a pair of moves to address last year’s porous outfield defense. In 2025, San Francisco’s outfielders ranked last in the majors in outs above average (-18). That group also posted the third-fewest defensive runs saved (-21) in the majors as well.
After designating Knizner for assignment, the Giants still have to decide whether they will tender contracts to right-hander JT Brubaker and left-hander Joey Lucchesi ahead of Friday’s non-tender deadline. MLB Trade Rumors project Brubaker and Lucchesi to make $2.1 million and $2 million in arbitration, respectively.
Catcher Jesus Rodriguez, acquired in the Camilo Doval trade, is now the leading candidate to become Patrick Bailey’s backup catcher for next season, but the Giants will likely continue to add catching depth.