Mariners and catcher Mitch Garver finalizing minor league deal, AP source says

By: Andrew Destin, The Associated Press Posted: 8:13 PM CST Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners and catcher Mitch Garver are finalizing a minor league contract, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

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SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners and catcher Mitch Garver are finalizing a minor league contract, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

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This article was published 18/02/2026 (191 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners and catcher Mitch Garver are finalizing a minor league contract, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical and had not been announced.

The 35-year-old Garver is expected to compete with Andrew Knizner and Jhonny Pereda to back up Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh, the runner-up for AL MVP last year. Garver spent the last two seasons as Raleigh’s backup, though he signed with the Mariners initially to serve as their primary designated hitter.

FILE - Seattle Mariners' Mitch Garver runs out a pinch hit triple against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning in Game 2 of baseball's American League Championship Series, Oct. 13, 2025, in Toronto. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

Across two seasons with Seattle, Garver has batted .187 with 24 home runs, 81 RBIs and a .632 OPS in 201 games. The 2019 Silver Slugger award winner is a .233 career hitter with 106 homers and 309 RBIs in nine major league seasons.

Garver hit a career-high 31 home runs with the Minnesota Twins in 2019, and won a World Series with the Texas Rangers in 2023.