Mariners Cut Veterans Garver and Refsnyder Amid Roster Shake-up

Seattle announced the release of catcher Mitch Garver and outfielder/Designated Hitter Rob Refsnyder on Tuesday, part of a seven-player roster overhaul that followed the trade deadline. Both players had signed contracts in the offseason—Garver on a minor-league deal in February and Refsnyder on a one-year, $6.25 million free-agent deal last winter.

The Spokesman-Review

Garver appeared in 50 games for Seattle this season, posting a .175 batting average with four home runs and 15 RBIs. Refsnyder’s output was even lower: ESPN listed a .140 average with four homers and 11 RBIs in 53 games, while Sports Illustrated recorded a .133/.203/.219 slash line with zero home runs across 49 games. The discrepancy highlights differing calculations of his performance. Both veterans failed to meet the offensive expectations that originally justified their contracts.

ESPN

Right-hander Taylor Ward, acquired from the Baltimore Orioles in a trade on Monday, was added to the active roster ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers. Ward, 32, is batting .246 with 20 doubles, seven home runs, 30 RBIs and an American League-leading 87 walks. He will assume Refsnyder’s roster spot.

ESPN

Catcher Jhonny Pereda was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma to serve as Cal Raleigh’s backup. Pereda has hit .270 with two home runs and four RBIs in 19 games this season; Sports Illustrated noted a .270/.324/.365 line in 63 at-bats, confirming his solid, small-sample production.

ESPN

Team officials indicated the moves were driven by a need to allocate roster spots to players delivering immediate production. By replacing underperforming veterans with a high-on-base outfielder and a proven defensive catcher, Seattle aims to sharpen its offensive depth while preserving flexibility for the stretch run. The changes do not guarantee a turnaround, but they signal a shift away from “sunk-cost” decisions toward performance-based roster management.

ESPN