The Mariners released Mitch Garver and Rob Refsnyder on Tuesday, ending two veteran additions that never delivered the production Seattle paid for. Jhonny Pereda is set to be recalled from Triple-A Tacoma to replace Garver, giving the club a fresh catcher option as it rearranges the roster again.
The move lands now because Seattle has started acting like a club that expects to play deep into October and no longer wants to carry hitters who are not helping. Garver arrived before the 2024 season on a two-year, $24 million deal, while Refsnyder signed for one year and $6.25 million last winter, but neither came close to matching the investment.
Garver’s numbers told the story. Over the next two years, he produced an 88 wRC+, then this season hit.183 with a.627 OPS. Seattle later declined his $12 million mutual option and brought him back on a minor league contract, a sign the club was already searching for a softer landing before Tuesday’s release. Refsnyder’s line was even thinner:.133/.203/.219 with zero home runs across 49 games.
That is the friction in the decision. Seattle spent on both players, then moved on anyway once the production stayed well below expectation. The timing also connects to Taylor Ward reporting after Monday’s trade with the Baltimore Orioles, which shifted the roster picture and helped open the door for Refsnyder’s exit.
What Seattle has not said is whether this is the end of the reshuffle or only the first step. Pereda is the only replacement named so far, and the club has not detailed any additional moves after cutting Garver and Refsnyder.
