Former Minnesota Twins catcher Mitch Garver re-signs with Seattle Mariners on minor-league deal
The Seattle Mariners have re-signed former Minnesota Twins fan favorite Mitch Garver to a minor-league deal, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The Mariners will pay the catcher/designated hitter at a $2.25 million rate if he makes the big-league roster, per MLB.com's Daniel Kramer.
Garver, 35, spent the last two seasons with Seattle, posting -0.2 bWAR and a .187/.290/.341 (85 OPS+) slash line with 24 homers across 201 games. He signed a two-year, $24 million deal with the club after he won the 2023 World Series with the Texas Rangers, who acquired the catcher from the Minnesota Twins in March 2022 for righty Ronny Henriquez and utilityman Isiah Kiner-Falefa, whom the Twins traded to the New York Yankees one day later, along with third baseman Josh Donaldson and catcher Ben Rortvedt, in exchange for catcher Gary Sanchez and third baseman Gio Urshela, whom the Twins brought back on a minor-league deal this offseason.
Former Twins fan favorite Mitch Garver mashed for Bomba Squad team
Garver played in 23 games during his first season with the Twins in 2017. After a decent 2018 season where he posted 1.1 bWAR and a .268/.335/.414 (104 OPS+) slash line with seven homers and 45 RBI in 335 plate appearances over 102 games, he broke out in 2019 as part of the Bomba Squad team, posting 4.1 bWAR and a spectacular .273/.365/.630 (157 OPS+) batting line with 31 homers and 67 RBI in 359 plate appearances across just 93 games. His 31 home runs helped the Twins break the MLB record for most homers in a single season.
Garver played in just 23 games during the Pandemic-shortened 2020 season due to a low-grade right intercostal strain. Injuries persisted through 2021, as he appeared in just 68 games due to a groin contusion and low back tightness. He absolutely mashed when healthy that year, however, slashing .256/.358/.517 (139 OPS+) with 13 homers.
Multiple injuries plagued Garver's first season with the Rangers, limiting him to just 54 games. A left knee sprain also kept him out for much of the 2023 season, but he remained healthy when it mattered, returning from the IL on June 2 and avoiding another injury for the rest of the season in which he posted 2.3 bWAR and a .270/.370/.500 (138 OPS+) slash line with 19 home runs and 50 RBI. He had 60 plate appearances during Texas' 2023 World Series run, going 12-for-54 with three home runs and 14 RBI.
Mitch Garver will compete for Mariners' backup catcher role
When the Mariners signed Garver during the 2023-24 offseason, they had planned for him to be a big bat in the lineup as a designated hitter who could occasionally catch. That obviously didn't work out.
Cal Raleigh will undoubtedly be the Mariners' starting catcher this season. Garver will compete with Andrew Knizer for a backup role. Former Twins catcher Jhonny Pereda will also try to make the big-league roster out of spring training.