The Seattle Mariners have agreed to a minor league deal with catcher Mitch Garver, sources informed ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Wednesday. At 35 years old, Garver is expected to challenge Andrew Knizner and Jhonny Pereda for the role of backup catcher behind Cal Raleigh, the Mariners’ primary catcher and last year’s runner-up for the American League MVP.
Garver’s Role and Past Performance with Mariners
Garver has spent the previous two seasons supporting Raleigh on the Seattle roster, initially joining the Mariners with plans to serve as their primary designated hitter. Over 201 games with Seattle, Garver has posted a .187 batting average, hitting 24 home runs and driving in 81 runs, while maintaining a .632 on-base plus slugging (OPS). As a veteran player, he brings experience from nine major league seasons, holding a career batting average of .233, with 106 home runs and 309 RBIs.
Career Highlights and Future Outlook
Among Garver’s notable achievements, he won the Silver Slugger award in 2019 after hitting a career-high 31 home runs with the Minnesota Twins. More recently, he earned a World Series championship with the Texas Rangers in 2023. Garver’s addition to the Mariners could strengthen their catching depth and offer Seattle more flexibility moving forward in the MLB season.
