Mariners' Mitch Garver enters free agency, likely won't return
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The MLB Players Association announced Monday that Mitch Garver’s option for the 2026 season was not picked up by the Seattle Mariners. The 34-year-old catcher is now a free agent and can sign with any team starting on Thursday.
Prior to the 2024 season, Garver signed a two-year, $24 million contract with the M's that included a mutual $12 million option for 2026. Considering their current free agency situation, the club can't afford a pricey, yet unproductive, bat in their lineup.
The Seattle Mariners declined C Mitch Garver’s mutual option.
— MLB Roster Moves (@MLBRosterMoves_) November 3, 2025
Garver is now a free agent. pic.twitter.com/tEUBWYEOZN
First baseman Josh Naylor, third baseman Eugenio Suárez, and relievers Caleb Ferguson and Luke Jackson are set to hit the free agent market. Second baseman Jorge Polanco could return by exercising his $6 million player option to stay with the Mariners, but it's widely believed he will also choose to test the market instead.
Garver Struggled in Seattle
Seattle was Garver's third stop in his big league career, after having previously playing for the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers, respectively. He was seen as a potential late-in-the-order power threat for the Mariners, but he never delivered on that promise.
This year, Garver hit just .209 with nine home runs and 30 RBI. In 254 at-bats, he struck out 80 times, and never really seemed to string together a good stretch during Seattle's sensational run to the American League West division title. And his 2024 campaign was even worse; he hit just .172 in 367 at-bats.
As per MLB rules, the free agency period begins five days after the World Series ends. So, there's a strong chance fans could see some swift moves made by Seattle, as they attempt to hold the nucleus of the team together.
