Mariners Open to Reuniting With Mitch Garver in 2026

The Seattle Mariners already made a bold move behind the plate this offseason, trading young catcher Harry Ford to the Washington Nationals. Now, they’re eyeing a familiar face again.

Mitch Garver is back on the open market after the club declined his 2026 option. Seattle’s front office seems to be weighing a short-term reunion with the veteran to help stabilize both the designated hitter spot and the backup catcher role behind Cal Raleigh.

Mitch Garver’s Future in Seattle After the Harry Ford Trade

Trading Harry Ford for left-handed reliever Jose A. Ferrer created an immediate depth question at catcher. Seattle’s top catching prospects are still in Single-A, so there’s no obvious internal answer to support Raleigh for a full season.

The Mariners’ interest in bringing back Mitch Garver isn’t really about sentiment—it’s about roster construction. A low-cost, one-year deal could make sense for both sides, especially since Seattle has payroll flexibility heading into 2026.

Why the Mariners Are Reconsidering Garver

Garver, who turns 35 in January, just finished a two-year, $24 million deal with Seattle. The club declined his $12 million mutual option for 2026 and paid a $1 million buyout instead.

That move wasn’t surprising, considering his age and recent performance. Still, it doesn’t rule out a return if the terms are more modest.

Seattle originally signed Garver to be the primary designated hitter and a backup catcher behind Cal Raleigh. He never quite delivered the offensive punch the team hoped for.

Even so, the organization thinks there might be enough underlying power and familiarity to justify bringing him back in a reduced role.

Breaking Down Garver’s Offensive Performance

Over two seasons in Seattle (2024–25), Garver posted an 88 wRC+ across 720 plate appearances. That’s 12 percent below league average offensively.

For a bat-first DH/catcher hybrid, that’s not what you want. The 2025 campaign told a similar story: some power, but below-average results overall.

2025 Offensive Line: Struggles With Results, Not Power

In 2025, Garver hit .209/.297/.343 with an 86 wRC+ over 87 games. He made some tweaks, like trimming his strikeout rate a bit, but his walk rate dropped too.

The overall package just didn’t do enough damage for the role. But dig a little deeper, and there’s still some hope. Garver posted a 46.9% hard-hit rate and saw his average exit velocity go up.

Those numbers suggest the raw power hasn’t disappeared, even if it didn’t always show up in the box score.

The Four-Seam Fastball Problem

If Garver wants to be a real offensive piece in 2026, he has to rebound against four-seam fastballs. His numbers against heaters fell off a cliff, which is a problem for a guy who’s supposed to punish pitches in the zone.

If Seattle’s coaches think they can help him re-sync his timing and pitch recognition, maybe there’s a modest bounce-back in the cards—especially if his role is more defined and the pressure’s lower.

Defensive Concerns Behind the Plate

The bat might offer a glimmer of hope, but Garver’s glove is a different story. His defensive metrics in 2025 were rough, and at his age, nobody’s really expecting a sudden turnaround.

Defensive Metrics Paint a Stark Picture

In 2025, Garver was charged with -6 Defensive Runs Saved. The rest of his catching numbers weren’t pretty either:

These issues aren’t new. Since 2020, Garver has rated as a below-average defender behind the plate.

At 35, it’s hard to believe he’ll suddenly improve his mobility, reaction time, or arm strength. Any team signing him—including Seattle—has to see him as a bat-first option who catches only occasionally.

Why a One-Year Deal Still Makes Sense for Seattle

Seattle’s upper-level catching depth is thin, and it’s not realistic to run Raleigh out there for a full catching workload without risking burnout.

With that in mind, Garver could fill in as a part-time DH and catch once or twice a week. He’d bring some veteran stability to the clubhouse and knows the pitching staff already.

Payroll Flexibility and Roster Fit

The Mariners have about $15 million in payroll flexibility for 2026. That gives them room to take a short-term, low-risk chance on Garver if the market cools off.

A one-year deal at a lower salary—way below the $12 million mutual option they just turned down—could offer:

For Seattle, the logic is pretty simple. If Garver’s bat gets back to even league average and he’s fine with a lighter defensive role, he makes sense as a bridge.

They traded Harry Ford and don’t really have a backup lined up. The Mariners might just decide the best stopgap is the veteran they already know.

 
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