Prior to the start of the MLB Winter Meetings, the Seattle Mariners traded away catcher Harry Ford, who was projected to be the backup catcher behind Cal Raleigh heading into 2026.
It was reported by Adam Jude of the Seattle Times that the Mariners would be open to a reunion with Mitch Garver, who has been the backup for the last two seasons. Nothing is imminent, though, and there may be some better options as the backup catcher in Seattle. Let’s take a look.
Rule 5 Draft
Early on in the Jerry Dipoto era, the Seattle Mariners picked up a lot of players in the Rule 5 Draft. Though recently they’ve only done so in the minor league portion. The 2025 Rule 5 Draft takes place on Wednesday, December 10th. Surprisingly, there are few options in the draft that the Mariners could take a look at for the backup catcher. The Mariners have the No. 23 pick this year.
Daniel Susac
Susac is the #11 Prospect in the Athletics organization per MLB Pipeline. At just 24 years old, he reached Triple-A in 2025. Susac has been a solid hitter at every level of the Majors. In 97 games with the Las Vegas Aviators, he hit .275/.349/.483 with 18 home runs, one triple, 19 doubles, 68 RBI, and seven stolen bases.
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Noah Cardenas
Cardenas might be the most intriguing option in the Rule 5 Draft. A former Top 30 prospect who has fallen out of the rankings. His offensive production hasn’t developed as scouts thought, but he plays multiple positions. The 26-year-old prospect also plays first base and Right Field. That kind of flexibility could be crucial for a young backup catcher at the Major League level. Between Double-A and Triple-A, Cardenas hit .245/.387/.438 with 10 home runs, 10 doubles, and 33 RBI.
Free Agents
Mitch Garver
The buzz following the news of a potential reunion is that a majority of Mariners fans are not on board with this. Garver signed a two-year deal with the Mariners prior to the 2024 season. The offensive production was inconsistent from Mitch Garver over the two years in Seattle. He slashed just .187/.290/.343 with 22 doubles, one triple, 24 home runs, and 81 RBI. On the positive side, he does know the pitching staff and is a solid defensive catcher.
Tom Murphy
Mariners fans should remember this name, as Murphy spent five seasons with the Mariners. Most recently, he played in Seattle during the 2023 season, when he was the backup catcher to Cal Raleigh. He signed with the San Francisco Giants prior to the 2024 season, though. Murphy is a better all-around backup catcher who hits for more average and is more consistent on the offensive side of the ball. The pitching staff is mostly intact from when Tom Murphy was last in Seattle.
In-House Options
Nick Raposo
Raposo is the best in-house option that Seattle has for the backup catcher. Though he is a 27-year-old minor leaguer who hasn’t really wowed anyone. Just this year, he hit .250/.339/.339 with 13 doubles, two triples, three home runs, and 40 RBI.
As of now, it’s hard to tell where Seattle will find its backup catcher because other positions, like second base and designated hitter, are taking priority. The Mariners are in the pursuit of Jorge Polanco. If they don’t get Polanco, they’ve also been in recent trade talks for Ketel Marte and Brendan Donovan.
