Andrew Knizner, a veteran catcher, has opted out of his contract with the Boston Red Sox, making him a free agent. The decision comes after Knizner spent July with the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, where he posted a .316 batting average, a .426 on-base percentage, and a .494 slugging percentage, accumulating a .920 OPS with two home runs and 16 RBIs in 21 games. He had previously been released by the Colorado Rockies in June.
Knizner joined the Red Sox organization on June 23, likely anticipating an opportunity to reach the major leagues. However, the emergence of catchers Carlos Narváez and Connor Wong, along with the Red Sox acquiring Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles at the trade deadline, pushed Knizner further down the team's depth chart. Earlier in the season with Triple-A Albuquerque, Knizner batted .279/.371/.590/.961.
Knizner, known for his capable defense behind the plate, could attract interest in a catcher-scarce free-agent market due to his recent offensive production in the minor leagues. His major league performance in 2025 with the San Francisco Giants saw him hit .221 with one home run in 33 games, leaving questions about his ability to contribute at the MLB level.
The New York Yankees, who were reportedly seeking a right-handed hitting catcher before the trade deadline, might consider Knizner. Their attempts to acquire Ryan Jeffers from the Minnesota Twins were unsuccessful, and their pursuit of Adley Rutschman was also ultimately unsuccessful. The Yankees recently signed Mitch Garver, a 35-year-old catcher released by the Seattle Mariners, to a minor league deal, indicating a willingness to sign veteran backstops in similar situations to Knizner's.