Garver aiming to crack Opening Day roster

Garver's two-run triple FORT MYERS, Fla. -- After five strong seasons in the Minors, Mitch Garver has put himself in prime position to make the Twins' Opening Day roster for the first time as backup catcher to Jason Castro, especially with last year's backup Chris Gimenez signing with the Cubs on a Minor League deal.

But the 27-year-old will have to earn the job. Garver met with manager Paul Molitor and the front office on Thursday, and they reiterated he'll be competing this spring with non-roster invites such as Bobby Wilson and Willians Astudillo.

"We want to give him an avenue to win the job," Twins general manager Thad Levine said. "But absent of him winning that, he's not going to be on…