Mariners To Add Mitch Garver To Opening Day Roster The Seattle Mariners have included Mitch Garver on their Opening Day roster as the team’s backup catcher, according to a report by Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times. This decision appears to leave Andrew Knizner without a guaranteed spot on the 2026 roster, as Knizner is under a $1MM contract for the upcoming season and cannot be optioned to the minors. Without a roster spot, Knizner will need to be traded or designated for assignment (DFA) before Opening Day. Garver, 35, is a nine-year MLB veteran with a history of injuries but has shown flashes of elite power when healthy. Over his career, he has played in 325 games from 2019 to 2023, averaging 65 games per season. During that span, he posted a .250/.346/.508 slash line, including 75 home runs, a 26.6% strikeout rate, and an 11.8% walk rate. His standout 2023 season with the Texas Rangers saw him appear in 87 games, hit 19 home runs, and maintain a 23.8% strikeout rate alongside a 12.8% walk rate. Despite his past success, Garver’s recent performance has declined. In 202 games with the Mariners since joining the team, he has struggled offensively, hitting .187/.290/.341 with a 29.6% strikeout rate and a wRC+ of 88, which indicates he has been 12 points below league average. His defensive contributions behind the plate have also been lackluster, leading the Mariners to expect he would be moved this offseason. Garver re-signed with the Mariners on a minor league deal at the start of Spring Training, but his performance has not improved. In 26 at-bats during camp, he has gone .182/.308/.227 with 11 strikeouts. These numbers have raised questions about why the Mariners would choose him over Knizner, especially given Knizner’s potential to be traded or DFA’d. Knizner, 31, is a career .211/.281/.#seattle_mariners #raleigh #mitch_garver #andrew_knizner #seattle_times
Mitch Garver wins battle for Mariners' backup catcher job Mitch Garver, who joined the Mariners' camp late in the spring on a minor league deal and as a non-roster invite, has secured the backup catcher position, according to a source close to the club. The decision was finalized after a competitive process against veteran Andrew Knizner, who is expected to be designated for assignment (DFA) to free up a 40-man roster spot. The Mariners will finalize their Opening Day roster no earlier than Wednesday, with the 26-man active roster due by the morning of the regular-season opener on Thursday. Knizner, who signed a one-year, $1 million guaranteed contract on December 16, faces potential complications if DFA’d. With over five years of service time, he could decline an outright assignment to Triple-A Tacoma if cleared through waivers. If claimed by another team, that club would assume his salary. Players with three to five years of service, like Knizner, can avoid the outright, making his potential departure a strategic move for the Mariners. Garver, meanwhile, will earn $2.25 million this season under a split minor league contract. His Major League salary is fully guaranteed if he plays at least one day in 2026. Mariners manager Dan Wilson acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but emphasized the team’s focus on long-term competitiveness. “Garv has had a great camp,” Wilson said, highlighting Garver’s contributions during spring training. Entering his age-35 season with eight-plus years of service, Garver retains the right to decline a minor league assignment if needed. This flexibility could come into play if the Mariners shift toward another backup catcher later in the season.#cal_raleigh #mitch_garver #mariners #andrew_knizner #spring_training
