Mitch Garver is in Seattle Mariners camp and ready to go after what he called a long, quiet winter. When the offers didn’t come in, he got an assist from a teammate.
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“Cal (Raleigh) reached out and said, maybe you should try calling the Mariners,” Garver said Friday morning. “We called Justin (Mariners general manager Justin Hollander) and within 24 hours we were able to work something out.”
It has been Garver’s intent to play this year – retirement was not on his mind. In camp on a minor league deal that will pay him $2.5 million should he be added to the major league roster, Garver should at a minimum get plenty of exposure in spring training should a job open elsewhere with Raleigh set to play for the USA in the World Baseball Classic.
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A role with the Mariners this year for Garver would be different. While he saw 113 of his 290 plate appearances last season as the designated hitter, that position is expected to be occupied this year primarily by a four-person right field/DH mix plus Raleigh on days when he’s not catching. The backup catcher spot is likely to be truly just a backup catcher job. Garver would, however, bring extra with his experience and willingness to be the vocal veteran leader to the younger players he proved to be last year.
“I love that role,” he said. “Older guy in the clubhouse. I can still play a couple of times a week, give some versatility off the bench. Being that role model and helping the young guys is something I enjoy doing. I can still play. I think my role started changing a little bit last year and I started appreciating it a little more.”
It’s a position Garver grew into, and he said he ended up enjoying it more than he thought he would. He also partnered well with Raleigh, whose endorsement he appreciates.
“I enjoyed it,” Garver said. “Giving him that breathing room to help him be his best, whatever he needs that day. I don’t know what the season is going to look like obviously, but he’s a good friend of mine, a good player and great person. It was nice advice.”
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