Seattle Mariners Acquire Catcher from Twins, DFA RHP Kowar

Mariners add depth at catcher, designate reliever Kowar for assignment

Jan. 27, 2026 at 8:47pm

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The Seattle Mariners have acquired 29-year-old catcher Jhonny Pereda from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for cash considerations. In a corresponding move, the Mariners have designated right-handed reliever Jackson Kowar for assignment to clear space on their 40-man roster.

Why it matters

The Mariners were looking to add depth at the catcher position behind starter Cal Raleigh, and the acquisition of Pereda provides them with another option as a potential backup. Kowar, who was acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Braves in 2023, struggled to find consistent success at the MLB level and was designated to make room on the roster.

The details

Pereda made his MLB debut in 2024 with the Miami Marlins and spent the 2025 season split between the Athletics and Twins. He has a career slash line of .241/.299/.296 with six doubles in 48 career MLB games. Kowar, 29, missed the 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery and appeared in 15 relief outings for the Mariners in 2025, posting a 4.24 ERA with 15 strikeouts and seven walks in 17 innings.

  • The Mariners acquired Pereda from the Twins on Tuesday, January 28, 2026.
  • Kowar was designated for assignment by the Mariners in a corresponding move.

The players

Jhonny Pereda

A 29-year-old catcher who was acquired by the Mariners from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for cash considerations.

Jackson Kowar

A 29-year-old right-handed reliever who was designated for assignment by the Mariners to clear a roster spot.

Cal Raleigh

The Mariners' starting catcher, with Pereda and Andrew Knizner now providing depth behind him.

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What they’re saying

“This is an opportunity for M's fans to celebrate Rick Rizzs”

— Mariners reporter (mynorthwest.com)

What’s next

The Mariners will now have 10 days to either trade, release or outright Kowar to the minor leagues.

The takeaway

The Mariners' acquisition of Pereda adds much-needed depth at the catcher position, providing insurance behind starter Cal Raleigh. While Kowar struggled to find success at the MLB level, the move to designate him for assignment clears a roster spot for the team to continue building their roster ahead of the 2026 season.