Expected Big Raise for Garver After Title Run

The Rangers have a couple of options when it comes to Garver, one of which must be triggered in the next few days. The Rangers could give Garver the qualifying offer, a one-year tender set to be a bit more than $20 million next year. If Garver accepts the deal, then the Rangers are on the hook for that money. If he opts for free agency and signs elsewhere, the Rangers get draft pick compensation.

Or, the Rangers could allow Garver to explore free agency and see what he can get. He made just $3.9 million with the Rangers in 2023, which was his final arbitration season.

Whether he can get more on the open market is the question he has to answer.

In Garver's next full season in 2021 he slid to .256 with 13 home runs and 34 RBI in 68 games as he spent part of that season on the injured list.

The Twins traded him to the Rangers before the 2022 season in a deal in which the Rangers sent infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa to Minnesota. The idea was that Garver would be the primary catcher and provide a veteran presence with Jonah Heim.

But in the season’s first month he suffered a right forearm flexor muscle strain and was limited to DH duties and ultimately had surgery in July that ended his season. He batted just .207 with 10 home runs and 24 RBI. By the end of the season, Heim had established himself as the team’s starting catcher.

Garver dealt with another injury this season, as he missed more than a month with a mild left knee sprain. That led to another slow offensive start. But, post-All-Star break, Garver’s offense picked up as he settled into the DH role full-time. He played 57 of his 87 games at DH.

In the postseason, be broke out in Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the Baltimore Orioles, going 2-for-6 with a grand slam and five RBI. That grand slam was his first career postseason home run and tied the team’s single-game postseason RBI record.