The Seattle Mariners have wrapped up a whirlwind offseason saga by bringing back Mitch Garver as their backup catcher. Initially, they seemed to chart a different course, but ultimately, they circled back to a familiar face. Garver will once again team up with Cal Raleigh, which means Andrew Knizner is likely on his way out, with the Mariners expected to designate him for assignment and absorb his $1 million salary.
Now, this isn't quite on the same scale as the financial hit they took with Mitch Haniger, but it's still a curious twist in the Mariners' offseason plans. The decision to switch from Knizner to Garver means the Mariners have increased their expenditure on the backup catcher role to $3.25 million, thanks to Garver's $2.25 million deal.
This situation raises an interesting question: Did the Mariners misjudge the catching market this winter? Their initial $1 million agreement with Knizner suggested they believed Garver would find a more lucrative offer elsewhere. Even FanGraphs anticipated Garver would land a one-year, $5 million deal.
However, Garver himself revealed that he hadn't received any formal offers before Raleigh reached out to him in February, leading to his return on a minor league deal less than a day later.
"It was a strange offseason. I was fortunate to have Cal reach out to me," Garver said, crediting Raleigh for his return to Seattle.
While Garver's re-signing didn't exactly set the fanbase on fire, his familiarity with Seattle's pitching staff likely played a crucial role in the decision. He seems well-suited to serve as George Kirby's personal catcher, adding a layer of comfort and continuity.
In the end, while this move might feel like a $1 million misstep in the offseason market, it doesn't overshadow the Mariners' broader plans. It’s a small hiccup in what could still be a successful season, but one that might prompt some to adjust their offseason grades for the team from an A+ to a solid A.