Longtime catcher Mitch Garver retires after 10 seasons

After playing 10 seasons in the Major Leagues, Mitch Garver has retired, Garver told MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer via text message on Thursday.

Garver, 35, has called it a career with a World Series ring and a Silver Slugger Award under his belt. The catcher and designated hitter was a key contributor to the Rangers’ first World Series title in 2023, posting an .870 OPS in 87 regular-season games before coming through with three home runs and 14 RBIs in the postseason.

Garver’s Silver Slugger came in 2019, when he was part of the historically powerful Twins offense. He mashed a career-high 31 home runs in 93 games with an excellent .995 OPS. That Minnesota team hit 307 total dingers in regular-season play, which set a Major League record for a single season. It still stands today, though the 2023 Braves tied the mark.

A New Mexico native and a graduate of the University of New Mexico, Garver became a ninth-round Draft pick of the Twins in 2013. He debuted with the club in 2017 and spent five years there before signing with the Rangers in '22.

On the heels of his World Series performance, Garver signed a two-year deal with the Mariners worth $24 million -- then the richest free-agent contract handed out by Seattle president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto. Josh Naylor’s five-year, $92.5 million deal set a new high ahead of the 2026 season.

Though Garver’s bat cooled during his time with the Mariners, he became an important piece of the clubhouse as the backup catcher and confidante to superstar backstop Cal Raleigh, who helped facilitate Garver’s return to Seattle this season. Garver won a battle for the backup catcher role in Spring Training and appeared in 50 games before his release. He then agreed to a Minor League deal with the Yankees but did not make it back to the Major Leagues.

In total, Garver recorded a career .229/.325/.432 slash line with 110 home runs. He accrued a 10.1 bWAR over his 10 years.