The New York Yankees have added another experienced option to their catching depth, reaching an agreement with veteran catcher Mitch Garver on a minor league contract. The move comes shortly after Garver was released by the Seattle Mariners and could give New York another potential option behind the plate as the team navigates an ongoing offensive issue at the position.
Garver is expected to report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he will have an opportunity to get back into a rhythm and potentially work his way into consideration for a major league promotion. His agreement with the Yankees reportedly includes an opt-out later this month, meaning the veteran will have a relatively short window to demonstrate that he can still contribute at the highest level.
At 35 years old, Garver brings considerable major league experience to the organization. However, his recent offensive production has been far below the standard he established earlier in his career. The Yankees are therefore taking a low-risk approach by bringing him aboard on a minor league deal rather than immediately adding him to the major league roster.
Garver’s Difficult 2026 Season
Garver opened the 2026 campaign with the Mariners, serving primarily as a backup to Cal Raleigh. Unfortunately, his time in Seattle did not go according to plan.
In 149 plate appearances, Garver posted a .175 batting average, .302 on-base percentage and .294 slugging percentage. While his 14.8% walk rate demonstrated that he was still capable of working deep into at-bats and reaching base without a hit, his overall offensive performance remained disappointing.
One of the biggest concerns was his strikeout rate. Garver struck out in 32.9% of his plate appearances, an extremely high figure that made it difficult for him to provide consistent offensive value.
His defensive limitations also make offensive production especially important. Garver has never been considered one of baseball’s strongest defensive catchers, so the value he brings to a roster largely depends on his ability to produce at the plate.
That is precisely what makes his previous success so intriguing to the Yankees.
A Veteran With a Proven Offensive Track Record
Although Garver’s recent numbers have been concerning, there is plenty of evidence that he can be a productive hitter when he is performing at his best.
From 2019 through 2023, Garver accumulated 1,242 plate appearances and hit 75 home runs. During that stretch, he posted a .250/.346/.508 batting line and produced an impressive 131 wRC+.
In simple terms, that figure meant Garver was approximately 31% better than the average major league hitter during that period.
His 11.8% walk rate was another positive feature of his offensive game, while his 26.6% strikeout rate was somewhat elevated. Nevertheless, his ability to combine power with patience made him a valuable offensive weapon, particularly for a catcher.
That history is likely part of the reason the Yankees are willing to take a chance on him.
The problem is that Garver has not been able to reproduce that level of production consistently in recent seasons.
Since the beginning of the 2024 campaign, he has hit just .185/.292/.333 across 869 plate appearances. His decline ultimately resulted in Seattle signing him to a minor league contract to begin this season before he earned a spot on the major league roster.
After struggling at the plate for several months, however, the Mariners decided to move on.
Now, Garver has another opportunity with a Yankees organization that could potentially provide him with a path back to the majors.
Yankees Wanted Another Catching Option
New York’s interest in Garver also makes more sense when considering the team’s catching situation.
The Yankees were reportedly exploring the catching market for weeks before the trade deadline, with right-handed hitters appearing to be a particular area of interest.
One of the names heavily linked to New York was Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers. At one point, an agreement involving Jeffers appeared possible, but Minnesota ultimately decided against becoming a major seller at the deadline.
The Twins retained key players such as Jeffers and even made moves to strengthen their own roster. That forced the Yankees to consider other alternatives.
Tyler Stephenson of the Cincinnati Reds was another possible target, but New York ultimately failed to acquire a catcher before the deadline.
The club therefore had to continue with the options already in its organization.
Austin Wells Remains a Major Factor
The Yankees’ search for another catcher has been closely connected to Austin Wells’ struggles this season.
Wells had established himself as a dependable part of New York’s catching picture during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. His offensive performance, however, has taken a significant step backward in 2026.
He has produced a .169/.268/.289 line, numbers that have made the position increasingly concerning for the Yankees.
Some of Wells’ struggles can be attributed to a .200 batting average on balls in play, which suggests that some unfavorable results may not necessarily reflect his true offensive ability. Still, the overall production has been poor enough that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman publicly acknowledged that catching had become an issue for the club.
Despite the offensive problems, New York reportedly remains impressed with other aspects of Wells’ game. The Yankees have not simply abandoned their young catcher and instead appear interested in finding someone who can complement him.
That is where a right-handed hitter could prove especially useful.
Wells bats from the left side, and his offensive struggles have been particularly noticeable when he does not have the advantage of facing pitchers from the opposite side.
Could Garver Become Part of the Major League Picture?
For now, Ali Sánchez remains the Yankees’ primary right-handed complement behind the plate.
Sánchez has delivered a respectable .268/.300/.357 batting line and has also shown promising defensive ability, including solid pitch-framing numbers. He has not yet accumulated extensive major league experience, appearing in only 82 big league games.
That lack of experience could potentially leave the door open for Garver.
The Yankees could simply view Garver as organizational depth, particularly in case Sánchez suffers an injury. But if Garver performs well at Triple-A, New York could also consider giving him an opportunity at the major league level.
One factor working in Garver’s favor is his history against left-handed pitching.
Even during his difficult 2026 season, Garver has been significantly more productive against southpaws, posting a .222/.344/.315 line and a 101 wRC+ in those situations.
That makes him an intriguing potential platoon option.
Rather than expecting Garver to suddenly return to his peak offensive form, the Yankees could potentially use him in a more specialized role where his strengths are maximized.
A Low-Risk Gamble for New York
The Yankees’ decision to sign Garver does not necessarily mean the organization believes he is about to become an everyday catcher again. Instead, the move gives them another experienced player without requiring a major commitment.
Garver has already demonstrated that he can hit for power, draw walks and provide above-average offensive production when healthy and in form. At the same time, his recent numbers show why he was available on a minor league contract.
The upcoming weeks should therefore be important.
If Garver can rediscover some of his previous offensive form at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the Yankees will have an experienced right-handed catcher waiting in the wings. If he struggles again, New York has not invested heavily in the experiment.
For now, the Yankees appear to be adding depth while keeping their options open.
Garver’s minor league deal could ultimately amount to little more than organizational insurance, but it also provides him with another chance to revive his career. With an opt-out approaching later this month, he will have a limited amount of time to show the Yankees that his best baseball may not be completely behind him.
For New York, meanwhile, the signing represents a sensible gamble at a position that has created concerns throughout the season.
