Veteran Catcher Sign With Texas Rangers After Winning World Series was his Target
The Seattle Mariners have signed veteran catcher Mitch Garver to a multi-year deal, pending a physical, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Sunday night.
Garver’s contract is for two years and $24 million, per Passan.
Garver spent the past two seasons with the Texas Rangers, serving as the team’s designated hitter during their World Series run this fall. Although he hit .105 with a .490 OPS in the Fall Classic itself, Garver was batting .294 with an .898 OPS in the postseason prior to that point.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24330445/calskywalker.png?w=640&ssl=1)
He still played his part in lifting the Rangers over the Arizona Diamondbacks, though, driving in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning of Game 5. That broke up Zac Gallen’s shutout and ultimately helped Texas secure its first World Series in franchise history.
In the 2023 regular season, the 32-year-old hit .270 with 19 home runs, 50 RBI, an .870 OPS and a 2.1 WAR in 87 games.
Garver played for the Minnesota Twins from 2017 to 2021. His best season came in 2019, when he hit .273 with 31 home runs, 67 RBI, a .995 OPS and a 4.1 WAR. Despite only appearing in 93 games, Garver won a Silver Slugger that year.
For his career, Garver is a .252 hitter with an .825 OPS and 9.8 WAR. Although he is primarily a catcher, Garver has logged a handful of innings at first base as well.
The Mariners now have a backup catcher they can use to spell Cal Raleigh, as well as an option at designated hitter. It remains to be seen if the club will commit more cash to the designated hitter spot or elsewhere in the lineup, considering they purposely freed up nearly $50 million in salary earlier this offseason.
Garver is 0-for-31 with two walks and an RBI in eight career games at T-Mobile Park. The right-handed hitter has been far more effective against left-handed pitchers in his career.
