Mariners’ roster moves: Ty France DFA’d; Julio and J.P. to IL
The Seattle Mariners announced a flurry of roster adjustments on Tuesday, the majority of which were expected but one of which was certainly unexpected.
Do the Mariners’ problems justify changes? ESPN’s Passan shares his views.
What was expected: first baseman Ty France was designated for assignment after being waived on Sunday, while shortstop J.P. Crawford was placed on the 10-day injured list. Surprisingly, great center fielder Julio Rodríguez has also been placed on the injured list.
Two rookies, first baseman Tyler Locklear and infielder Leo Rivas, as well as outfielder Cade Marlowe, have been promoted from the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers to replace them on the roster.
Crawford’s injury, originally described as a hairline pinky fracture after being struck by a pitch Monday night, is now labeled as a right hand fracture in the Mariners’ press release announcing the movements. Rodríguez suffered a right high ankle injury while attempting to catch near the wall against the Houston Astros on Sunday.
With Rodríguez’s ankle injury, the Mariners optioned rookie outfielder Jonatan Clase to Triple-A Tacoma after Monday’s game to accommodate Marlowe. Clase was summoned from Tacoma on Tuesday when Rodríguez’s injury was found to be more severe than previously suspected.
Who’s in?
Locklear, 23, returns to the Mariners for the second time this season. While France was on the injured list in June with a right heel fracture, he hit.200 (6 for 30) with two home runs, a double, and one walk against 12 strikeouts in 11 games. Locklear, the No. 99 overall prospect in baseball and the No. 6 Mariners prospect according to MLB.com, is hitting.264/.374/.455 (.829 OPS) with four home runs in 31 Triple-A games. He also played 41.
Rivas, a 26-year-old switch-hitter, was 2 for 6 with a triple in six games with the Mariners earlier this season. In 63 games with Tacoma, he had a.296/.441/.424 batting line (.865 OPS), four home runs, and 24 steals.
The lefty-swinging Marlowe is with the Mariners for the first time this season after appearing in 34 games for Seattle in 2023. In 2023, he hit.239/.330/.420 for a.750 OPS with three home runs and four steals in MLB. In 90 games with the Rainiers this season, the 27-year-old has a.236/.342/.395 slash (.737 OPS), 13 home runs, and 43 steals.
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