The Mariners introduced Friday that they’ve optioned infielder Luis Urías to Triple-A Tacoma. Seattle recalled rookie outfielder Jonatan Clase to take the open roster spot.
It’s just a little shocking to see Urías optioned out solely. The righty-hitting infielder has performed often at third base this month. Urías hasn’t hit, although, slumping to a .152/.264/.316 line in 91 plate appearances on the season. Seattle welcomed J.P. Crawford again from the injured record earlier within the week, whereas Jorge Polanco has performed two of the previous three video games after lacking a while with a sore hamstring.
Crawford and Polanco ought to draw into center infield on most days. Supervisor Scott Servais advised reporters that Josh Rojas and Dylan Moore will platoon at third base (X hyperlink through Ryan Divish of the Seattle Instances). Rojas, a left-handed hitter, opened the season on the scorching nook however moved to second base whereas Polanco was out. He’s out to a .286/.354/.421 line by way of 41 video games, a strong rebound after his underwhelming 2023 season.
Moore has arguably been much more spectacular. The righty-hitting utilityman dealt with shortstop whereas Crawford was injured and has hit .248/.359/.504 over 145 plate appearances. Moore has linked on six homers, together with three in his final eight video games, and is drawing walks at a lofty 12.4% clip.
As one would count on for a right-handed batter, Moore is healthier in opposition to lefty pitching. He has completely destroyed southpaws this season (.289/.391/.632 in 46 plate appearances), although he’s greater than holding his personal in opposition to righties as nicely. Moore has a .343 on-base proportion and is slugging .446 in 99 plate appearances with out the platoon benefit, albeit with a modest .229 common.
Moore can even play second base and the nook outfield, so he ought to play pretty often even in opposition to right-handed pitching. He’ll possible be at third in opposition to opposing southpaws rather than Rojas, who’s a profession .253/.330/.346 hitter left-on-left. Urías, in the meantime, will get on a regular basis reps within the Pacific Coast League as he tries to get on monitor. It’s the second straight yr through which he has been optioned. The Brewers despatched him down for 26 video games halfway by way of final season.
Urías entered 2024 with 4 years and 98 days of MLB service. He wants round three extra weeks of main league time to cross the five-year threshold this season. In both case, that may wind up being immaterial. Urías is enjoying this season on a $5M wage and could be in line for a modest increase subsequent yr if he’s tendered an arbitration contract.
He’d want a major turnaround over the following few months or he’ll be a simple non-tender name for the Seattle entrance workplace. He’d already appeared like a non-tender candidate final offseason when he was with the Pink Sox, however the M’s despatched reliever Isaiah Campbell to Boston to provide Urías a shot at a bounceback. It hasn’t transpired to this point.
