Mariners catcher Mitch Garver officially heads to free agency

The Mariners and Mitch Garver have parted company, with the catcher receiving $1 million as per a buyout in his deal for the 2026 season.

The Seattle Mariners have made their first official roster move of the offseason and it’s one that many were predicting (and for quite a while). As confirmed by the MLB Players Association on Monday, Mitch Garver’s $12 million mutual option for the 2026 season was not picked up and thus he has become a free agent.

Garver’s contract included a $1 million buyout clause for the 2026 season and while it hasn’t been announced who declined the option it seems fair to assume it was the Mariners’ decision. The reality is the catcher just didn’t get it done during his two years in Seattle, and even this can be considered an understatement.

Initial excitement for Mitch Garver quickly disappears

Just to be clear we’re not trying to pile on a player who is a decent person and has had success during his Major League career, including being named a Silver Slugger in 2019 and winning a World Series ring with the Texas Rangers in 2023. However, Garver was never able to live up to the initial excitement felt in Seattle when the Mariners signed him to a two-year, $24 million deal in December of 2023.

The 34-year-old was awful during his first season with the M’s, as he batted .172 with a .627 OPS while playing in a career-high 114 games. Things weren’t much better in 2025 as he batted .209 with a .639 OPS and, as per Baseball Savant, also performed poorly behind the plate when called upon.

In an interesting quirk, Garver actually stepped up during the Mariners’ playoff run to Game 7 of the AL Championship Series. He might have only had seven at-bats, but we’re still going to give him credit where it’s due in producing a .905 OPS in limited opportunities, especially after all he endured during his tenure in Seattle.

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List of free agents grows for the Mariners

Garver joins first baseman Josh Naylor and third baseman Eugenio Suárez, as well as relievers Luke Jackson and Caleb Ferguson as M’s who have hit the free agent market. He will be able to sign with any team starting on Thursday.

With the departure of Garver, this now sets the stage for the highly touted Harry Ford to take over as the main catcher behind Cal Raleigh next year. Ford made his Major League debut this season, drove in his first run via a walk-off sacrifice fly versus the Los Angeles Angels, and had a hit in his one at-bat during the playoffs.

Photos court​‌esy of Tim Rogers Photography

Can you make any case for why Garver should have remained with the Mariners for next season, or are you on board with how things ended for the catcher in Seattle? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.