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9 trade targets for the Colorado Rockies from the Minnesota Twins

By Noah Yingling

SEATTLE - JUNE 16: Taylor Rogers #55 of the Minnesota Twins pitches during the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on June 16, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. The Twins defeated the Mariners 7-2. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
SEATTLE - JUNE 16: Taylor Rogers #55 of the Minnesota Twins pitches during the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on June 16, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. The Twins defeated the Mariners 7-2. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins, Mitch Garver
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 23: Mitch Garver #8 of the Minnesota Twins hits an RBI single against the Toronto Blue Jays in the third inning of the game at Target Field on September 23, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Blue Jays 7-2. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

Minnesota Twins catcher Mitch Garver would be a good defensive and offensive backup/platoon catcher for the Colorado Rockies

Minnesota Twins catcher Mitch Garver is, arguably, a great catcher … when he is not injured. He definitely would be one of the best backups if he was with the Colorado Rockies.

Garver, who turns 31 in a few weeks, is from Albuquerque, New Mexico, which is, of course, the home of the Rockies Triple-A affiliate. Garver also went to college at the University of New Mexico (which is in Albuquerque) as well. When he made it to the majors in 2017, he joined former Colorado Rockies player and new hitting coach in Albuquerque, Jordan Pacheco, in making it to the majors after being born, raised, and going to college in Albuquerque (both went to UNM).

Garver has been injured a lot in the last two seasons (including a back strain and an injured groin in 2021) so he has only played in 91 games since the start of the 2020 season. However, particularly in 2021, he was very good when he played.

In 68 games, Garver hit 13 homers and had 34 RBI with a slash line of .256/.358/.517, which amounted to an OPS+ of 139. Depsite catching less than half of his teams games (59), he was 11th among all MLB catchers in pitch framing metrics, including runs extra strikes on Statcast. That’s why he still had a WAR of 2.1.

In 2019, he only played in 93 games and he still had a staggering 31 homers and drove in 67. He hit .273/.365/.630 with an OPS+ of 159. That’s a 162-game pace of 54 homers and 117 RBI. Despite only playing in 93 games, he still won a Silver Slugger Award.

He is arbitration-eligible for the second time this offseason and he is projected to make about $3 million in arbitration this offseason.

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