Rangers catcher/designated hitter Mitch Garver did not receive a qualifying offer, reports Jon Morosi of MLB.com (X link). He hits free agency without draft compensation attached as the clear #1 catching option in the class.
Garver played his way to borderline QO candidacy with a huge second half. He finished the season with a .270/.370/.500 line with 19 home runs through 344 plate appearances. He hit at a league average level during the World Series run, finishing postseason play with a .226/.317/.434 slash with a trio of homers in 14 games.
Turning 33 in January, Garver will be capped by his age and injury history in terms of contract length. He’s a lock for a multi-year deal, likely a three-year pact in his first trip to the open market. Gary Sánchez, Tom Murphy and Víctor Caratini are the best catchers beyond him in the class. If Texas lets Garver walk, they’ll likely bring in a veteran backup behind Jonah Heim who pushes Sam Huff to third on the depth chart.
Guy rakes. Arguably the most underrated hitter of this generation
He hits but he has played <500 games in 7 years. Hardly generational
Dombrowski let’s kick those tires!
The Rangers would be nuts letting Garver go. He’s been the best DH on this team.
Yes best DH, but not at 20mil
Langford is coming.
The Astros need a veteran catcher to pair with Yainer Diaz. This guy would be a good fit.
That’s what I was thinking. Also a right handed compliment at DH.
I could see them going after Tom Murphy perhaps.
I guess Langford will be a DH when he debuts in 2024. There’s a possibility that Taveras and/or Duran gets traded for some pitching this winter.
Tigers should have made a play for him as a part time catcher and DH instead of Kelly. But…Riley Greene is supposedly going to DH a lot next year after his shoulder injury so perhaps not the best fit after all.
shoring up that Ohtani money.
I think a lot of teams will be calling Garver’s agent, but the QO would have been an overreaction. If the Rangers really want Garver, they can get him for a much lower AAV and just negotiate with him on a new 2/3 year deal.
Not a rangers fan but i agree. Why pay 20+ for 1 season of him when 3/33ish gets it done. I see him as a 11-16 AAV guy depending on team and term. 2/26 likly gets him in a rangers uniform again
I think that’s right about dead on.
They wouldn’t have got the draft pick bc he would’ve accepted. That’s why they didn’t offer, learned their lesson with Perez last year. Both can be quality players but neither is worth $20m/yr
Doesn’t change the fact that he’s injury prone, can barely catch anymore, is a backup at best and his a mediocre dh. And I’m a ranger guy, but let’s overvalued him.$$12m/yr at best, and I’d let him walk
$20M feels like a bit too high. *IF* Rangers have any marginal chance to get Ohtani who might ask for AVV in the range of $35-40M, $20M is a big part to that.
35-40? Try 45-50 ASV for Ohtani. I wouldn’t do it, personally, because you’re paying extra for his pitching, yet no one knows how that will work out after 2024.
35-40? Try 45-50 AAV for Ohtani. I wouldn’t do it, personally, because you’re paying extra for his pitching, yet no one knows how that will work out after 2024.