The New York Yankees find themselves with an open date on the calendar after wrapping up a series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The club managed just one victory in the three-game set at Yankee Stadium and closed things out with a 3-1 defeat on Wednesday evening. While the roster remains largely intact following the trade deadline, questions continue to linger about the catching depth.
Those questions gained fresh urgency this week when the Seattle Mariners cut ties with veteran catcher Mitch Garver. The 35-year-old was officially released on Aug. 4 as part of a flurry of roster moves that also saw other veterans shown the door.
In 50 games this season, his third with Seattle, Garver posted a .175 batting average with 22 hits, four home runs, 15 RBIs and 17 runs scored. The production fell well short of expectations and ultimately cost him his spot.
Garver’s availability has already drawn attention from Yankees observers. On the Sal Licata Show, producer Badabooms floated the idea of New York claiming the free agent, arguing that Garver would represent a clear upgrade over current option Ali Sanchez.
The suggestion arrives at a time when the Yankees had been widely expected to add catching help before the deadline yet failed to complete any such transaction.
A look at Garver’s track record helps explain the interest. Selected in the ninth round of the 2013 draft, he spent the first five seasons of his big-league career with the Minnesota Twins before moving to the Texas Rangers.
During his two years in Texas he contributed to the club’s 2023 World Series championship. Across ten major-league seasons he has accumulated a .229 career average, 497 hits, 110 home runs and 324 RBIs in 701 games.
Those numbers reflect a player who has long been capable of delivering power from the catcher position when healthy and in rhythm.
Whether the Yankees pursue Garver remains to be seen. Adding a seasoned bat and defensive presence behind the plate could provide insurance for the stretch run and beyond, especially if the current group continues to struggle offensively.
At the same time, any decision would need to balance salary considerations, roster flexibility and the club’s longer-term plans at the position. For now, Garver sits as an available veteran with postseason experience and a proven ability to impact games when the bat is working.
How the Yankees choose to respond in the coming days could offer an early indication of how aggressively they intend to address their catching situation.
