SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners and catcher Mitch Garver are finalizing a minor league contract, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical and had not been announced.
The 35-year-old Garver is expected to compete with Andrew Knizner and Jhonny Pereda to back up Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh, the runner-up for AL MVP last year. Garver spent the last two seasons as Raleigh's backup, though he signed with the Mariners initially to serve as their primary designated hitter.
Across two seasons with Seattle, Garver has batted .187 with 24 home runs, 81 RBIs and a .632 OPS in 201 games. The 2019 Silver Slugger award winner is a .233 career hitter with 106 homers and 309 RBIs in nine major league seasons.
Garver hit a career-high 31 home runs with the Minnesota Twins in 2019, and won a World Series with the Texas Rangers in 2023.
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FILE - Seattle Mariners' Mitch Garver runs out a pinch hit triple against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning in Game 2 of baseball's American League Championship Series, Oct. 13, 2025, in Toronto. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AP) — Arsenal blew a two-goal lead at last-place Wolves on Wednesday to give a huge boost to Manchester City in the race for the Premier League title.
The league leader was held to a surprise 2-2 draw at Molineux, having led 2-0 in the second half.
Teenage debutant Tom Edozie scored in the fourth minute of added time to complete Wolves' comeback.
“There was a big difference in how we played in the first half and the second half. We dropped our standards and we got punished for it,” Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka told the BBC.
The draw means Arsenal has dropped points in back-to-back games and leaves it just five ahead of second-place City, having played a game more.
With the top two still to play each other at City's Etihad Stadium, the title race is too close to call.
“(It's) time to focus on ourselves, improve our standards and improve our performances and it is in our control,” Saka said.
Arsenal has led the way for the majority of the season and one bookmaker paid out on Mikel Arteta's team winning the title after it opened up a nine-point lead earlier this month.
But Wednesday's result was the latest sign that it is feeling the pressure, having finished runner-up in each of the last three seasons. It has won just two of its last seven league games.
Having blown a lead against Brentford last week, it was even worse at a Wolves team that has won just one game all season.
Victory looked all but secured after Saka gave Arsenal the lead with a header in the fifth minute and Piero Hincapie ran through to blast in the second in the 56th.
But Wolves' fightback began with Hugo Bueno's curling shot into the top corner in the 61st.
The 19-year-old Edozie was sent on as a substitute in the 84th and his effort earned the home team only its 10th point of a campaign that looks certain to end in relegation. While it did little for Wolves' chances of survival, it may have had a major impact at the top of the standings.
“Incredibly disappointed that we gave two points away,” Arteta said. "I think we need to fault ourselves and give credit to Wolves. But what we did in the second half was nowhere near our standards that we have to play in order to win a game in the Premier League.
“When you don’t perform you can get punished, and we got punished and we have to accept the hits because that can happen when you are on top."
Arsenal plays Tottenham on Sunday. Its lead could be cut to two points before it kicks off if City wins against Newcastle on Saturday.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya tries to block a shot during the Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal in Wolverhampton, England, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Arsenal's Piero Hincapie, rights, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side the second goal during the Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal in Wolverhampton, England, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Hugo Bueno celebrates with teammates after scoring his side the first goal during the Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal in Wolverhampton, England, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta reacts during the Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal in Wolverhampton, England, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus and William Saliba react during the Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal in Wolverhampton, England, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
