The Seattle Mariners just made a very interesting move to help out their banged-up outfield.
Switch-hitter Leody Taveras has been claimed off waivers by the first-place M’s from one of their AL West rivals, the Texas Rangers.
Aaron Goldsmith: What new OF Leody Taveras brings to M’s
Seattle has designated right-handed pitcher Luis F. Castillo (the inclusion of a middle initial is important to note in this case) to make room on the 40-man roster for Taveras.
Taveras was placed on outright waivers Sunday by Texas, putting the speedy 26 year old – and the roughly $3.6 million still left on his $4.75 million salary for 2025 – up for grabs as the Rangers’ outfield returned closer to full health.
The Mariners have had problems staying healthy in the outfield themselves, as they were left without their best lefty-hitting option in the outfield with Luke Raley going on the injured list last week. He has a right oblique strain that is expected to shut him down for at least six weeks.
Seattle is also without Victor Robles, who entered the season as the starting right fielder but is out until at least midseason with a shoulder injury.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Taveras is hitting .241 with a home run, three doubles, six stolen bases on seven attempts and a .601 OPS in 30 games this season. He has 23 strikeouts to just two walks in 82 plate appearances.
There’s definitely potential that getting Taveras could end up being a steal, however. He provided 2.3 fWAR in 143 games for the Rangers during their 2023 World Series-winning campaign. That year, he slashed .266/.312/.421 for a .733 OPS with 14 homers, 31 doubles, and 14 steals on 18 attempts. He struggled at the plate in 2023 (.229/.289/.352 slash) but stole a career-high 23 bases on 29 attempts.
Taveras was a highly-ranked prospect, considered one of the best players in the 2015 international class and taking the claim as the No. 1 player in the Texas system prior to the 2017 season per Baseball America. He ranked in several publications’ top 100 overall prospect lists going into 2019.
The Mariners, who were down to using utility man Miles Mastrobunoi and recent Triple-A callups Samad Taylor and Rhylan Thomas in right field over the past week, also reinstated utility man Dylan Moore from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday. Moore hits well against left-handed pitching while Taveras swings better as a lefty against right-handers, making them a potential platoon pairing in right for the time being.
Taveras has exclusively played center field in the big leagues, but played in the corners at times in the minors.
The Mariners are currently in Sacramento, where they will play the second game of a three-game series at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday night against the Athletics. Seattle Sports radio coverage will begin at 6 p.m. with the pregame show.
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