Baseball is a beautiful game, manager Scott Servais says, and an equally cruel one. But rarely is baseball cruel. Quiet bats and brutal injury breaks have snowballed, and the have now dropped 20 of 29 games.
Their once-double-digit lead in the American League West evaporated into a deficit, plagued by an MLB-high 1,066 strikeouts and MLB-low .216 batting average. They are without for at least 10 days.
The star outfielder nearly completed a remarkable, high-soaring catch into the wall in Sunday’s game, but instead collapsed to the dirt with a right high ankle sprain. They are without shortstop and unofficial captain , who took the second pitch of Monday’s game to the right hand, fracturing his pinkie finger. They are without , the longtime first baseman designated for assignment on Tuesday afternoon and the first roster casualty for an offense still searching for consistent production.
And yet Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to the was rock bottom, when high-leverage setup man injured his right knee in the eighth inning upon balking the go-ahead run into scoring position. The starting pitching? Still elite. , , and surrendered one total earned run in three combined starts at T-Mobile Park – but the Mariners were swept for the first time this season, scoring just once in each game.
Distinct boos echoed from nearly 40,000 faithful as lifted Wednesday’s game-sealing flyout to center field and Seattle officially fell one full game behind in the division standings. the Mariners league ranking in these stats this season — BrooksGate (@Brooks_Gate) 58 contests remain. “It’s a bad moment,” Castillo said Wednesday, through interpreter Freddy Llanos.
“But they don’t last forever.” A flurry of roster moves shook up Seattle’s roster on Tuesday afternoon, headlined by Rodriguez’s and Crawford’s placement on the 10-day injured list. The announcement included the following transactions: INF recalled from Triple-A Tacoma.
OF recalled from Triple-A Tacoma. INF recalled from Triple-A Tacoma. INF J.
P. Crawford placed on 10-day Injured List (right hand fracture). OF Julio Rodríguez placed on 10-day Injured List (right high ankle sprain).
INF Ty France designated for assignment. Rodriguez was considered day-to-day when x-rays on the 23-year-old’s ankle returned negative, but his lower leg “did not respond” as trainers anticipated Monday. Crawford is expected to miss multiple weeks, making utilityman the obvious candidate for everyday time at shortstop.
The departure of France reopens the first-baseman role for Tyler Locklear, 23, who debuted for the Mariners on June 9 and posted a .662 OPS in 13 games. “I don’t want those guys to try to do more than they’re capable of doing,” Servais said.
“Just bring your game. Let’s get on base, let’s create opportunities..
. and you’re going to (need) some timely hitting.” This rotation provides the Mariners an opportunity to win any game – but the offense hasn’t stepped up to take it, Servais added.
Still, a favorable weekend schedule with the lowly (27-77) hands Seattle yet another chance to right the ship and remain within striking distance as the July 30 trade deadline nears. “I do believe that we will get this going,” Servais said. “It’s just a struggle right now.
No question about it. “They’re disappointed. They’re frustrated.
But there’s only one way out. You’ve got to fight your way out. “They’re not quitters.
They’re not going to quit.” Ty France soaked in Monday night’s game at T-Mobile Park from the upper banister of the home dugout, even as fans trudged for the exits and the grounds crew began nightly maintenance. He signed autographs for fans and, eventually, cleared out his home locker with hugs scattered in between.
France remained on the active roster, but the Mariners had placed the 30-year-old on outright waivers – almost assuredly marking the end of his Mariners tenure. “A little caught off-guard,” France said Monday afternoon, describing his initial reaction. “But I understand.
“At the end of the day, it’s a business. And I’m not performing to the best of my abilities, so anything could happen.” France’s production dipped year-over-year, recently exacerbated by a June 7 right heel hairline fracture.
And upon return 11 days later, the first baseman, admittedly, hasn’t been the same player. The everyday, hit-to-all-fields contact machine struggled into the All-Star break and again out of the second-half gates: France slashed .157/.
272/.225 in 27 games since that return from injury, going 14-for-89 with one home run and 27 strikeouts. “Ty was a big part of our offense here for a number of years, and deservedly so,” Servais said Tuesday.
“He was very productive hitting the ball all over the field. One of the tougher guys in the league to strike out. The bat-to-ball skills I raved about.
This guy could put the bat on anything. “And over time, that hasn’t been the case.” The Mariners first acquired him in a seven-player deal with in 2020 and enjoyed immediate dividends as France slashed .
302/.362/.453 in his first 23 games with Seattle that season and continued to ascend.
In 2021, his age-26 season, France boasted career-bests in batting average (.291) and on-base percentage (.368) across 152 games.
He earned his first AL All-Star nod in 2022, powered by a career-high 20 home runs and 83 RBI that helped snap Seattle’s 21-year postseason drought. But France slashed just .223/.
312/.350 with eight home runs, 31 RBI, and 83 strikeouts in 88 games for the Mariners this season. “I can’t put my finger on one thing,” France said.
“Otherwise, I would’ve fixed it.” Because France has accrued more than three years of major league service time, he can decline a minor league assignment and elect free agency. “I do think he’ll land on his feet and be a productive player again in this league,” Servais said.
“I really do. ..
. Just didn’t see (it) coming back here any time soon.” Seattle executives are more-than-bullish on the potential upside of Jurrangelo Cijntje – and now, the 21-year-old switch pitcher from Mississippi State is, officially, a Mariner.
Cijntje, joined by parents and sisters, put pen to paper on a $4.88 million contract with the Mariners, that figure per MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer.
The Willemstad, Curacao native shook hands with and chatted with Mariners manager Scott Servais, all after visiting Pike Place Market and partaking in the popular salmon-throwing ritual. “Just to be around and (think) one day, you’ll be here..
. I think that’s pretty awesome,” Cijntje said. Scouted by the Mariners as early as 2022, Cijntje touches 98 mph with his right arm and 93 from the left side.
By age six, he had picked up a right-handed glove in hopes of emulating his father, who played professionally in the Netherlands. Cijntje went 8-2 with a 3.67 ERA across 16 starts for Mississippi State in 2024 mixing four total pitches, though the slider and changeup are his favorites.
“Baseball, I love this game,” he said. “I’ve been playing it since I was a kid. .
.. Why not just go out there and enjoy the game? And if you can play in the major leagues, and try to play as many years as you can, just enjoy it.
” How does Cijntje plan to use his signing bonus? “I’m going to buy my parents a house back in Curacao,” he said. “And I will see if I can bring them here and get a house in Seattle so they can watch me pitch here, too.” Seattle also agreed to terms with Ryan Sloan, the 55th overall selection.
The 6-foot-5 righty from York Community High School (Elmhurst, IL) posted a 0.39 ERA (2 ER, 46.2 IP) with 90 strikeouts and five walks en route to 2024 Gatorade Illinois Player of the Year honors.
Initially a Wake Forest commit, the Mariners went over-slot to pry him from the college ranks with a $3 million contract, per MLB.com. Both are headed to for workouts, bullpen sessions, and to craft developmental plans.
“It’s actually kind of crazy, just the fact that (Jurrangelo) can throw from both arms,” Sloan said with a laugh. “Super cool guy. He’s very easy to talk to.
Very down to Earth.”.
