The Seattle Mariners’ trade on Saturday filled one need on their offseason shopping list, bringing in left-handed relief pitcher Jose Ferrer. But it also created a new one.
With rookie catcher Harry Ford going to the Washington Nationals, the Mariners have no other catchers behind superstar Cal Raleigh on their 40-man roster.
The solution now seems pretty obvious.
“It means Mitch Garver’s coming back to be your backup catcher,” Mike Salk said somewhat tongue in cheek Monday on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk.
That was by no means a definitive statement by Salk, but it does seem like the next logical move for the M’s. Garver was the primary backup for Raleigh in 2025, after all, and it seemingly would make perfect sense for the Mariners to reunite with the soon-to-be 35-year-old backstop.
“I think there’s a good chance. I mean, it’s not like there’s a million great backup catchers out there,” Salk said of the Mariners potentially reuniting with Garver.
Before the Mariners re-signed Josh Naylor out of free agency last month, Garver owned the distinction of having signed the biggest contract given to a free-agent hitter by the current Mariners front office headed by president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto, which dates back to the fall of 2015. Garver was inked to a two-year, $24 million deal prior to the 2024 season to be Seattle’s main designated hitter, but he struggled at the plate and settled into a role as Raleigh’s backup before the end of that year.
It shouldn’t cost the Mariners nearly as much to bring Garver back, though. And while he hit just .209 with a .639 OPS in 87 games in 2025, his bat was plenty serviceable against lefties (.233 average, .718 OPS) and on the road (.245 average, .730 OPS).
Perhaps most important is his established familiarity with Seattle’s pitching staff after spending the past two seasons catching for the M’s.
“He’s a good catcher and he hits lefties fine,” Seattle Sports’ Brock Huard said.
Salk asked Huard if the Mariners should bring Garver back if it was on a contract with a salary of $2 million, and they agreed it would be worthwhile.
“(Would) you say no to that? Not really, right? Like, $2 million a year for Mitch Garver to be your backup catcher? Sure,” Salk said. “If he contributes with the bat the way he did last year, he’d be a steal at that price. Now, it’s hard because of the sunk cost of the $24 million, but hey, what’s $2 million after $24 million?”
There are a number of other veteran catchers available in free agency the Mariners could also look at. They include Elias Díaz (35 years old), who was the MVP of the All-Star Game in Seattle in 2023, Kentwood High School product Reese McGuire, and former Rangers switch-hitter Jonah Heim.
Hear the full conversation in the podcast at this link or in the audio player below. Catch Brock and Salk from 6-10 a.m. weekdays on Seattle Sports.
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