Mitch Garver’s tenure with the Seattle Mariners is officially over.

The MLB Players Association announced Monday that Garver’s mutual option for the 2026 season was not picked up, meaning the 34-year-old catcher is now a free agent and can sign with any team starting Thursday. It was unclear if the Mariners or Garver declined the option.

M’s fans should be ready for an uncomfortable Josh Naylor free agency

Garver joins first baseman Josh Naylor, third baseman Eugenio Suárez, and relievers Caleb Ferguson and Luke Jackson as Mariners to hit the free agent market. An announcement has not been made about second baseman Jorge Polanco, who could choose to trigger a $6 million player option to stay with the Mariners for 2026 or become a free agent for a second straight offseason.

When Garver signed a two-year, $24 million deal to be the Mariners’ primary designated hitter in December 2023, it was the first multi-year contract and the highest average annual value given to a free agent position player since president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto joined the organization as general manager in 2016.

Garver was coming off one of his best seasons while being a key piece of the Texas Rangers’ run to a World Series title. However, the New Mexico product had a disappointing two-year stint in the Pacific Northwest.

Garver batted just .172 with a .627 OPS and 15 home runs over a career-high 114 games in 2024 while seeing his role reduced to backup catcher and platoon duties by the end of the season. He continued that role in 2025, posting a .209 average with a .639 OPS and nine homers over 87 games.

In 201 total games as a Mariner, Garver slashed .187/.290/.341 with a .632 OPS, 24 homers and 81 RBIs while producing a minus-0.2 bWAR.

Garver’s departure seemingly opens up backup catcher duties for touted prospect Harry Ford, who joined the big league club for the first time in September. Ford went 1 for 6 at the plate in eight regular season games with Seattle, and 1 for 1 in a lone postseason appearance.

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