The Seattle Mariners have delivered a late offseason twist by re-signing Mitch Garver to a minor league deal. This move reintroduces a familiar face to the roster, albeit adding some intrigue to the backup catcher competition.
Garver, at 35, is an MLB veteran classified as an “Article CC (b) free agent,” which means his contract includes three opt-out dates: March 21, May 1, and June 1. His aim is clear: make the Mariners' 26-man roster by the end of spring training to secure a $2.25 million payday.
However, to achieve this, Garver will need to surpass Andrew Knizner, who holds a fully guaranteed $1 million contract. Last season, Garver struggled, posting a -0.2 rWAR while earning $24 million over two years with the Mariners.
The competition between Garver and Knizner for the backup catcher role is heating up. Knizner, 31, not only has a financial advantage but also boasts a defensive edge, as highlighted by Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. Although Knizner’s MLB batting hasn’t impressed, he did achieve a 1.032 OPS in 31 Triple-A games last season.
Garver's strengths lie in his experience with the Mariners' pitching staff and his power potential. Despite a .343 slugging percentage in 2025, his average exit velocity hit 91.5 mph, his best since 2021.
If Garver doesn’t surpass Knizner by March 21, he might choose to remain with Triple-A Tacoma. Yet, it's hard to envision a seasoned catcher like Garver staying in the minors for long.
Should Garver outperform Knizner, the Mariners face a dilemma. Knizner, without minor league options, could refuse an assignment to Tacoma and still collect his $1 million.
Thus, if Garver makes the roster, the Mariners would effectively spend $3.25 million.
The decision not to re-sign Garver immediately after trading Harry Ford in December raises questions. Perhaps the switch to Knizner was a misstep in evaluating the catching market.
Ultimately, the competition is for the backup role behind one of baseball’s top catchers. It may not be a glamorous position, but it’s essential, and someone has to fill it.