Mitch Garver has never been a volume star. He’s been a kind of hitter who can go quiet for stretches, then turn a postseason at-bat into a turning point.Seattle knew exactly what they were buying when they brought him in for 2024, and they knew exactly what they were passing on when they declined the $22.025 million qualifying offer this winter.Garver’s 2025 numbers show exactly why he’s now a short-term play. He appeared in 87 games, hit .209 with nine homers, and carried a .639 OPS with some flashes of pop, but not enough consistency to lock in a full-time job.Before joining Seattle, he gave Texas huge postseason at-bats during their World Series run and won a Silver Slugger with Minnesota in 2019. The power has always been there.The question now is how often it still shows up, and in what role, and with the catcher market thinner than usual, these three teams profile as his strongest landing spots.#1. Philadelphia PhilliesIf the Phillies reshuffle their catching depth or look for a right-handed DH who can also catch part-time, Garver fits like a glove.Philadelphia loves experienced hitters who can handle tough at-bats late in games, and Garver has done exactly that in Minnesota and Texas.He wouldn’t have to catch every day, wouldn’t have to carry the lineup, and Citizens Bank Park rewards right-handed pull power. For a short, low-cost deal, he’s the kind of bat the Phillies value when building October depth.#2. San Diego PadresSan Diego’s catching situation has been unsettled for two seasons, and they’ve been open about wanting more offense from the bottom third of the lineup.Garver can give them that in a shared role, DH some days, catch on others, pinch-hit when needed.He doesn’t have to be 2019 Garver to help the Padres, but he just has to hit enough to lengthen the lineup and give them a mature bat who knows how to work counts.#3. Tampa Bay RaysThis is exactly the kind of player Tampa Bay takes a shot on every winter. They love affordable one-year bats with power upside and defensive flexibility.Garver fits their model: part-time catcher, part-time DH, enough power to punish mistakes, enough experience to understand his role.The Rays don’t need him to play 130 games. They need 80-90 good ones and a handful of key hits.