SEATTLE -- The Mariners added some catching depth on Thursday, claiming backstop Nick Raposo off waivers from Toronto and adding him to the 40-man roster, which is now at 38.
Raposo, who was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Friday, figures to be in the mix for a role at Triple-A Tacoma, where Seattle lacks depth behind the plate.
On the big league roster, the Mariners are still sorting out the specifics of Mitch Garver's role after he finished last season as Cal Raleigh's backup at catcher. Garver is entering the final year of a two-year, $24 million contract that he signed last December to be the team's full-time designated hitter, but his struggles became so pronounced that his playing time dwindled to a sporadic role, especially after Seattle made notable acquisitions at the Trade Deadline.
"Those are things we're going to continue to iron out as the offseason goes on," Mariners manager Dan Wilson said at the Winter Meetings last week. "Obviously, when you look at what Cal does behind the plate, he doesn't take a lot of days off. So, you know, we'll just continue to weigh what our needs are and how these guys fit."
Raposo, 26, played in 78 games at the Triple-A level last season between the Blue Jays and Cardinals organizations, slashing .206/.280/.340 (.620 OPS) with 26 runs scored, 10 doubles, eight homers and 33 RBIs.
He began the season with Triple-A Memphis before being selected to the Major League roster on June 22, but he did not appear in a game with the Cardinals before he was optioned on June 24. He was then DFA'd by St. Louis on July 29 and claimed off waivers by the Blue Jays on Aug. 1.
A Providence, R.I., native, Raposo was originally signed by the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent on June 15, 2020, after a four-year collegiate career at Wheaton College in Norton, Mass. He has appeared in 219 Minor League games across four seasons, batting .241 (173-for-718) with 39 doubles, three triples, 20 home runs, 92 RBIs and a .708 OPS.