Mitch Garver Signs Two-Year Deal with Seattle Mariners
The free agent market’s top offensive catcher, Mitch Garver, has officially signed a two-year, $24 million contract with the Seattle Mariners. This deal was confirmed by multiple reports on Sunday.
Powerful Bat and Impressive Stats
Garver, who will turn 33 in January, is known for his exceptional right-handed power. In the previous season, he hit 19 home runs in just 87 games for the World Series champions, the Texas Rangers. Throughout his career, Garver has maintained an impressive .483 slugging percentage. These impressive stats earned him the 22nd spot on The Athletic’s Big Board of free agents, making him the only catcher to make the top 40.
A Transition to Designated Hitter
Despite his offensive prowess, Garver has had limited playing time as a catcher. He caught only 28 games last season and just 14 games the year before, primarily due to injuries. With Cal Raleigh taking over the catching duties in Seattle, it is expected that Garver will spend most of his playing time next season as a designated hitter. In the Seattle lineup, Garver will join Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez, and Ty France, providing a strong offensive presence. Additionally, Garver’s signing will help compensate for the departure of left fielder Teoscar Hernández in free agency and an upgrade from last season’s primary DH, Mike Ford.
Limited Options in the Free Agent Market
While Garver’s signing fills a significant void in the free agent market for catchers, there are still limited options available for teams seeking catching help. Tom Murphy, the longtime backup for the Mariners, has already signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the San Francisco Giants. Among the remaining free agents, players like Gary Sanchez, Mike Zunino, Yasmani Grandal, Jacob Stallings, Tucker Barnhart, and Martín Maldonado have had notable careers as All-Stars and Gold Glove winners but are likely to serve as backups at this point.
Mitch Garver’s signing represents a significant addition for the Mariners, who are looking to strengthen their lineup and improve their offensive production.
Required Reading
(Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)