Mariners Add Veteran Catcher Mitch Garver to Opening Day Roster

Garver beats out Andrew Knizner for backup job behind starter Cal Raleigh

Mar. 22, 2026 at 7:56pm

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The Seattle Mariners have decided to add veteran catcher Mitch Garver to their Opening Day roster, making him the backup to starting catcher Cal Raleigh. This move comes as a bit of a surprise, as Garver has struggled offensively over the past two seasons with the Mariners and was widely expected to be let go this offseason. However, the Mariners have opted to bring back the 35-year-old Garver, who has a history of power hitting when healthy, over the 31-year-old Andrew Knizner, who was also in the mix for the backup job.

Why it matters

Garver's addition to the roster is noteworthy because it signals the Mariners' continued faith in the veteran, despite his recent decline in production. The decision to keep Garver over the younger Knizner also raises questions about the team's priorities in shaping their roster, as Knizner has more service time and could have been retained even if he was designated for assignment.

The details

In 201 games over the past two seasons with the Mariners, Garver has hit just .187/.290/.341 with a 29.6% strikeout rate, a far cry from his more productive years earlier in his career. Knizner, on the other hand, is a career .211/.281/.316 hitter, so neither player has been a standout offensive performer in recent years. However, Knizner is viewed by some as the superior defensive catcher, and at 31 years old, is younger than the 35-year-old Garver.

  • Garver re-signed with the Mariners on a minor league deal at the start of Spring Training in 2026.

The players

Mitch Garver

A 35-year-old veteran catcher who has spent the past two seasons with the Seattle Mariners. Garver is a former Silver Slugger award winner who has shown flashes of elite power hitting in his career, but has also struggled with injuries and inconsistency at the plate.

Andrew Knizner

A 31-year-old catcher who was also competing for the Mariners' backup job. Knizner has appeared in parts of seven MLB seasons but has a career .211/.281/.316 batting line.

Cal Raleigh

The Mariners' starting catcher, who is expected to play the majority of games behind the plate.

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What they’re saying

“Despite that, Garver re-signed with the club on a minor league deal at the outset of Spring Training. Contact has remained an issue for him this spring, as he's gone just .182/.308/227 with 11 strikeouts in 26 trips to the plate during camp.”

— Nick Deeds, Author

What’s next

The Mariners will need to make a decision on the fate of Andrew Knizner, who is on a $1 million contract for 2026 and cannot be optioned to the minors. He will either need to be traded or designated for assignment before Opening Day if he is not making the team's roster.

The takeaway

The Mariners' decision to keep the veteran Garver over the younger Knizner as the backup catcher raises questions about the team's priorities and willingness to move on from underperforming players. This move could have implications for the Mariners' roster construction and depth heading into the 2026 season.