The Mariners’ roster acquired a serious shakeup at the moment, with the membership saying an enormous slate of strikes. First baseman Ty France was designated for task whereas shortstop J.P. Crawford and outfielder Julio Rodríguez every landed on the 10-day injured record. Crawford has a proper hand fracture whereas Rodríguez has a proper excessive ankle sprain. In corresponding strikes, the membership recalled infielders Tyler Locklear, Leo Rivas and outfielder Cade Marlowe.
The writing gave the impression to be on the wall for France just a few days in the past. Seattle positioned the 2022 All-Star on outright waivers earlier this week in hopes that one other membership would declare the rest of his $6.775MM wage. Earlier at the moment, Chris Cotillo of MassLive reported on X that France had gone unclaimed on waivers.
The Mariners didn’t must outright France to a minor league affiliate — they may have merely determined to maintain him on the roster, because the Blue Jays did with Kevin Kiermaier earlier this month when he additionally cleared waivers — but it surely appears they’re dedicated to transferring on.
Now that he’s been designated for task, he’s off the 40-man roster and they’ll technically have a while to discover commerce eventualities. With France clearing waivers, the M’s not less than know that they will’t simply eliminate his wage, although they may maybe eat a few of that as a way of facilitating a deal. France has sufficient service time to reject an outright task in favor of free company whereas retaining the rest of his wage, so he’ll doubtless find yourself launched if no commerce is labored out within the coming days.
From 2020-22, the considered putting France on waivers would’ve appeared foolish. The previous Padres prospect went from San Diego to Seattle as a part of the Austin Nola commerce on the 2020 deadline and posted a terrific .284/.354/.441 slash (127 wRC+) with 40 homers, 64 doubles and three triples. France had posted robust offense all through his minor league tenure however drew concern from scouts about his lack of an apparent defensive house. He labored himself right into a tremendous defender at first base although, posting common or higher marks there up till an across-the-board decline this season.
France’s glove isn’t the one factor that’s taken a step again. He was barely a league-average hitter in 2023 and has seen his manufacturing dwindle additional in 2024. Over his previous 1005 massive league plate appearances, he’s posted a punchless .241/.328/.361 slash. France remains to be getting on base at a good clip, however his strikeout charge has spiked from 16.4% (2020-22) to 24.4% in 2024. This 12 months’s 19.7% line-drive charge is a private low, and France’s 46.3% grounder charge is the second-highest mark of his profession. For a participant whose common dash pace ranks within the seventh percentile of MLB hitters (through Statcast), an uptick in grounders is especially problematic.
Although his current play hasn’t been as much as his prior requirements, France has loads of monitor file. He’s been a strong right-handed bat who’s primarily performed first base within the majors however has dabbled on the reverse infield nook and at second base as effectively. If he finally ends up launched, a brand new crew might signal France and would solely owe him the prorated league minimal for any time spent on the large league roster, because the Mariners will stay on the hook for the remainder of this 12 months’s wage.
France would even be controllable for a brand new membership by way of the 2025 marketing campaign. He opened the present season with 4.089 years of MLB service and has already added one other 117 days. That’ll push him to five-plus years. A brand new crew might undergo the arbitration course of with him this offseason, or they may push for a extra palatable membership choice to be tacked on, because the Tigers did with Carson Kelly final August following his launch with the D-backs.
Extra to come back.
