The holiday break does not seem to slow down the free agent market, although it has been almost neutral since the start of the off-season.
Indeed, just last night (Sunday), Mitch Garver and the Seattle Mariners agreed on the terms of a contract that will bring the catcher $24 million over two years, according to what was reported in first place Jeff Passan of the ESPN network.
The deal will become official when Garver completes his physicals.
Seattle now has a replacement for Teoscar Hernandez in their ranks, with Garver posting an .870 OPS and hitting 19 long balls in 87 regular season games last campaign. The latter also added three other home runs during the Texas Rangers' run in the playoffs, helping his team win major honors this fall.
Primarily a designated hitter at this point in his career, Garver will also slot in behind the plate on occasion. He played 28 games at receiver during the 2023 campaign.
That's the role the 32-year-old filled wonderfully for the Rangers last season, as he hit for a .270 batting average in 344 plate appearances while serving primarily as a pinch-hitter. choice to allow star catcher Jonah Heim to spend more time behind the plate.
During his 451-game MLB career with the Minnesota Twins and Rangers, Garver had a .252 batting average while also hitting 82 home runs and driving in 228 runs.
The Twins selected Garver in the ninth round of the 2013 draft and Garver made his MLB debut in 2017.
