According to Mike Krukow, catcher Patrick Bailey is one of many San Francisco Giants who should not feel secure about his role on the team.

While his bat has been less than stellar, San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey has won each of the last two National League Gold Glove Awards at the position. So, even with his offensive struggles, his role as the team’s primary starting catcher has rarely been called into question.

But according to announcer Mike Krukow, that is no longer the case.

The Giants made some roster changes ahead of the Monday, May 4 game against the San Diego Padres, calling up slugger Bryce Eldridge and catcher Jesús Rodríguez, who were both in the starting lineup for the series opener against the Padres.

As one of baseball’s top prospects, Eldridge’s promotion was inevitable, particularly when considering his strong start in Triple-A. But what does Rodríguez’s promotion mean for Bailey?

According to Krukow, it’s at least a wake-up call.

Mike Krukow to Patrick Bailey: ‘When You Do Get That Chance To Play, Then You Need To Perform’

During his Monday spot on KNBR’s Murph & Markus, Krukow discussed the team’s performance, noting that nobody should feel safe.

“I don’t think anybody is safe right now,” Krukow said, H/T Florito Maniego, NBC Sports Bay Area. “I really don’t. I mean, if you think that the numbers you’re putting out now, if they’re not good numbers, you cannot justify the argument to say that ‘I need to be in the lineup’.”

Krukow continued, specifically discussing Bailey.

“However, when you do get that chance to play, then you need to perform,” Krukow added. “It’s that simple, and it applies to everybody, even a two-time Gold Glove catcher. And there just aren’t any guarantees, and that is what a shake-up is. I mean, you’re shaking things up. You have to be willing as an organization to say that it applies to everybody. I certainly feel that is what’s going on here.”

Bailey’s Situation Differs From Other Struggling Veteran Teammates

Through play on Sunday, May 3, Bailey was hitting .152/.221/.190. To be clear, Bailey is far from the only struggling Giant. Rafael Devers (.214/.257/.305), Willy Adames (.195/.236/.346) and Matt Chapman (.246/.324/.331), for example, are all performing well below expectations.

Krukow also noted that in his interview, specifically citing Chapman, Adames and Devers as veterans who might be out of the lineup more than usual.

That said, there’s a critical difference with those players — their contracts. Krukow is right. Few San Francisco players are performing well enough to say, “I need to be in the lineup.” But the business of baseball tells us that based on the money they have coming to them, the likes of Chapman, Adames and Devers aren’t at risk of losing their spots in the lineup anytime soon.

Bailey doesn’t have that luxury.

He’s not even set to hit arbitration until after the 2026 season. Furthermore, he has Minor League options remaining. If he can’t become more productive with the bat, Bailey risks losing not only his spot as the team’s primary catcher, but his roster spot altogether.

So, while a lot of Giants are facing additional pressure to perform, Bailey’s situation is perhaps more urgent than any veteran on the team.