Is Mitch Garver Nearing The End of His Time on the Seattle Mariners Roster?

Thursday night felt like it represented a turning point for the Seattle Mariners and catcher/DH Mitch Garver.

I want to be clear: I'm not calling for Mitch Garver to be designated for assignment or released. I'm just wondering if that day is coming.

I explained further on the most recent edition of the Refuse To Lose podcast:

What ​exactly ​is ​​Mitch ​Garver ​at ​this ​point? ​Because ​Mitch ​Garver ​has ​been ​fairly ​lousy ​offensively ​this ​season, ​but ​Mitch ​Garver ​has ​had ​a ​solidified ​role ​as ​the ​backup ​catcher ​and ​as ​the ​designated ​hitter ​against ​lefties. ​​And ​on ​Thursday, ​Dan ​Wilson ​elected ​to ​play ​a ​likely-compromised ​Jorge ​Polanco at ​designated ​hitter ​​rather ​than ​Mitch ​Garver. ​​If ​Mitch ​Garver ​can't ​get ​in ​the ​lineup, ​against ​left-handed ​pitchers, ​then ​maybe ​Mitch ​Garver ​isn't ​long ​for ​this ​roster.

You can hear my full thoughts in the podcast player below:

Signed to a two-year deal worth $24 million before the 2024 season, Garver is hitting just .216 with one homer and 10 RBIs this season, and his lone homer came off a position player. He's got a .337 on-base percentage and is hitting .226 vs. lefties.

Now 34 years old, Garver is a career .235 hitter over nine seasons with the Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers and Mariners. He hit a career-high 31 homers for the Twins in 2019 and helped the Rangers win the World Series in 2023.

The Mariners will open up a new series with the Twins on Friday night. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PT as Bryan Woo pitches against Zebby Matthews.