Garver beats out Knizner, will serve as Mariners’ backup catcher (source)

Garver had been up against fellow veteran Andrew Knizner, who is expected to be designated for assignment to clear a 40-man roster spot when the club finalizes its Opening Day roster. That won’t come until Wednesday at the earliest, and potentially not until the morning of the regular-season opener on Thursday, when the 26-man roster is actually due.

Knizner signed a one-year, $1 million Major League contract on Dec. 16 that is fully guaranteed. And because he has more than five years of service time, he could decline an outright to Triple-A Tacoma if he clears waivers after being DFA’d. If any team claimed him, that club would then be on the hook for his salary.

Garver, meanwhile, will earn $2.25 million this season, after agreeing to a split Minors contract that would make his Major League salary fully guaranteed if he plays just one day in the big leagues in 2026.

“That’s been a spot that’s obviously made for a difficult decision too,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said before Seattle’s 4-2 Cactus League win over the White Sox. “But I think the driving factor is what makes us better. And I think Garv has had a great camp.”

Entering his age-35 season and with eight-plus years of service, Garver can also decline an assignment to the Minors at any point this season — if say, the Mariners eventually prefer to go with another backup to Cal Raleigh later on.

Financial and Roster Considerations

Garver, Seattle’s incumbent backup catcher, earned $12.5 million last season in the final year of a two-year, $24 million free-agent deal he signed in the 2023-24 offseason. In that regard, $3.25 million combined between his ‘26 figure and Knizner’s is much smaller.

Garver’s Transition and Fit

Context is also key, as Garver’s previous deal was agreed to on the heels of him helping Texas win the 2023 World Series title, and with the intent of him being a full-time designated hitter in Seattle. It was also, at the time, the largest free-agent contract for a hitter under president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto, who took over during the 2015-16 offseason.

However, the everyday DH role didn’t work out during Garver’s first season with the Mariners, and he was eventually shifted into the backup catcher role by that year’s Trade Deadline. But the latter gig was one he settled into nicely, thanks to his veteran experience and rapport with the Mariners’ pitching staff — which ultimately played the biggest factor in bringing him back for ‘26.

Garver had his first of three opt-out-eligible dates on Saturday but remained in camp — which hinted at the direction that the Mariners were leaning. He hasn’t exactly wowed at the plate, going 4-for-22 (.182) with one double, three walks and 11 strikeouts before hitting his first homer on Sunday. But neither had Knizner, who’s 5-for-29 (.172).

It’s also worth noting that the backup catcher role in Seattle will see less playing time than most across the sport, as Raleigh logged 1,072 innings behind the plate last season (third most in MLB). He’s also coming off a historic 60-homer season, and the Mariners are going to want his bat in the lineup every day, even if at DH.

Yet for a team that, on paper, looks like the favorite in the American League West, it’s clear that they are willing to spend a little more — even if at a sunk cost — to assemble what they believe will be its best roster. And that’s why the Mariners are going with Garver.