The Mariners have opened up a roster position just nine days before the MLB trade deadline.
This weekend, the Seattle Mariners dropped two out of three games to the Houston Astros, resulting in a tie for first place in the American League West. With the MLB trade deadline approaching, the Mariners have placed first baseman Ty France on outright waivers, as reported by Seattle Times beat writer Ryan Divish.
This action makes France available to all other teams, though his salary remains with the Mariners. If he goes unclaimed, he could be sent to the minors, but with over five years of service time, he can refuse that assignment. If he declines, he would return to the Mariners, which is why no additional roster changes were made on Sunday.
France has had a tough season, hitting .224 with a .664 OPS, both below his career norms. He has managed only eight home runs and 31 RBIs in 87 games. After a strong 2021 season and an All-Star appearance, his performance has declined in the past two years, with 2022 seeing him drive in just 58 runs and hit .250. The question now is whether any team will take a chance on him despite his recent struggles or if he will end up back with the Mariners.
The future of Ty France and the Mariners
Ty France is now available to all MLB teams at no cost, and the chance to acquire a potential asset for the postseason should be seized by several teams. The Houston Astros, a division rival, are strong contenders to pick up France.
After the Jose Abreu experiment fell short earlier this season, the Astros are in need of a first baseman. Jon Singleton, a left-handed hitter, is putting up similar offensive numbers to France with a .238 batting average and 7 home runs, and might be a candidate for replacement at the trade deadline. Rather than trading prospects and cash for a new player, the Astros could consider using France and Singleton in a platoon arrangement, which aligns well with their lefty-righty splits.
In the National League, the San Francisco Giants could also benefit from adding France. They lost two draft picks in 2024 due to compensation for signing Blake Snell and Matt Chapman and are in the middle of the playoff race. Given their significant offseason moves, acquiring France for free could boost their playoff chances.
For the Mariners, who should be active buyers at the trade deadline, letting France go to another team would be a missed opportunity. After ending their 20-year playoff drought in 2022 but missing out again in 2023, they need to act. If France is acquired by another team, Christian Walker from the Arizona Diamondbacks could be a solid replacement, as he’s having an impressive season with 22 home runs.
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