- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Peoria Today
By the People, for the People
Mariners Tap Veteran Garver as Backup Catcher
Garver beats out Knizner for reserve role behind star catcher Raleigh
Mar. 22, 2026 at 8:18pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The Seattle Mariners have selected veteran catcher Mitch Garver as their backup to starting catcher Cal Raleigh for the 2026 season. Garver, who signed a minor league deal with the team, beat out fellow veteran Andrew Knizner for the role. The Mariners will likely designate Knizner for assignment to clear a roster spot, though he could decline an outright assignment due to his service time.
Why it matters
The Mariners are expected to be a top contender in the American League West this season, and securing an experienced backup catcher to work with their star starter Raleigh is an important depth move. Garver's familiarity with the pitching staff and veteran presence were key factors in the team's decision.
The details
Garver, 35, agreed to a split contract that will pay him $2.25 million if he makes the major league roster. Knizner, who signed a $1 million major league deal in the offseason, is expected to be designated for assignment, though he could decline an outright assignment to the minors due to his service time. The Mariners are willing to eat Knizner's salary in order to have Garver, who has more experience, as the backup.
- Garver agreed to his minor league deal with the Mariners in mid-February after being encouraged to reach out by starting catcher Cal Raleigh.
- Garver had an opt-out date on March 18 but remained in Mariners camp, hinting at the team's plans to keep him as the backup catcher.
The players
Mitch Garver
A veteran catcher who signed a minor league deal with the Mariners and has won the backup job behind starter Cal Raleigh.
Andrew Knizner
A veteran catcher who signed a $1 million major league contract with the Mariners in the offseason but is expected to be designated for assignment.
Cal Raleigh
The Mariners' star starting catcher who is coming off a historic 60-homer season and will see the majority of playing time behind the plate.
What’s next
The Mariners will finalize their 26-man Opening Day roster by Wednesday, at which point they will designate Knizner for assignment.
The takeaway
The Mariners are prioritizing veteran experience and familiarity with the pitching staff in their backup catcher role, even if it means eating a portion of another player's salary, as they look to build a championship-caliber roster around their star catcher Raleigh.
