Might 7: The M’s introduced at this time that Taveras has reported to the workforce with Thomas optioned to Triple-A because the corresponding transfer.
Might 6: The Mariners have claimed outfielder Leody Taveras from the Rangers, in response to bulletins from each golf equipment. The Rangers recalled outfielder Evan Carter to take his spot on the roster, a transfer that was previously reported. Proper-hander Luis F. Castillo, to not be confused with Luis Castillo, has been designated for project by the M’s to open a 40-man spot for the declare. An lively roster spot will have to be opened each time Taveras experiences to the M’s.
Taveras, 26, will be part of a brand new group for the primary time. The Rangers signed him as a global novice again in 2015, giving him a notable bonus of $2.1MM. He went on to turn into the membership’s prime prospect and one of many prime 100 within the league for a number of years. As a serious leaguer, he has been helpful however not fairly a star. His pace and protection have allowed him to make notable contributions for the Rangers, although his offense has been much less constant.
When he first arrived within the majors, he struck out fairly a bit, however he was nonetheless in his early 20s at the moment. In 2023, he managed to get the punchouts all the way down to a manageable 21.1% price. He nonetheless didn’t stroll a lot, only a 6.3% price, however he put the ball over the fence 14 instances. That every one led to a .266/.312/.421 line and a 100 wRC+, indicating he was precisely league common on the plate.
Given his different skills, common offense was fairly acceptable. He additionally stole 14 bases and bought sturdy marks for his outfield protection. FanGraphs thought of him to be value 2.4 wins above substitute on the yr as he helped the Rangers cost to their first ever championship.
He fell of a bit final yr. His stroll price truly jumped to 7.9% and his strikeout price primarily held regular, bumping ever so barely to 21.2%. His residence run whole additionally didn’t change a lot, dropping to 12, however with 25 fewer plate appearances. His batting common on balls in play dropped to .272, after being at .318 the yr earlier than. He completed the 2024 season with a .229/.289/.352 line and 82 wRC+. Nonetheless, along with his 23 steals and his glovework, he produced 1.1 fWAR.
Right here in 2025, his offense has dropped additional. By way of 82 plate appearances, he has a 2.4% stroll price, 28% strikeout price, .241/.259/.342 line and 68 wRC+. That’s been half of a bigger constellation of struggles in Texas, as guys like Marcus Semien and Joc Pederson are additionally struggling badly. Jake Burger’s droop was steep sufficient to get optioned to the minors whereas Taveras was positioned on waivers. The membership additionally fired offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker and employed Bret Boone as a hitting coach in an try to kickstart the offense.
For the Mariners, it’s a buy-low transfer, with some echoes of their Víctor Robles pickup. Robles was additionally a notable prospect with the Nationals who had struggled to click on within the majors. The M’s sntached him up final yr after the Nats launched him. Robles then carried out properly with Seattle, sufficient that they signed him to a small extension final yr, simply a few months after bringing him aboard. Robles has sadly been sidelined by a dislocated left shoulder and might be nonetheless a few months away from returning. Luke Raley changed him in proper subject however he just lately hit the IL himself resulting from an indirect pressure. Lately, they’ve been enjoying guys like Rhylan Thomas and Miles Mastrobuoni on the market, which is lower than perfect. Thomas has simply ten main league plate appearances up to now and hasn’t executed a lot with them. Mastrobuoni is a light-hitting utility man. Dylan Moore was reinstated from the injured listing at this time however he might be wanted on the infield, with Ben Williamson producing subpar offense from third base in his first 70 massive league plate appearances.
Presumably, Taveras shall be within the combine to assist out in proper. He has solely ever performed middle subject in his main league profession, although the M’s have Julio Rodríguez there each day. Taveras has performed the corners within the minors and most middle fielders can transfer to left or proper with out concern. Some platoon matchups within the lineup are doable. Taveras is a switch-hitter with higher numbers as a lefty. Williamson and Moore are each right-handed, so maybe they’ll take third and proper subject when powerful lefties are on the mound.
Although the Mariners are “shopping for low” within the sense that Taveras has been performing poorly of late and was available on the wire, there’s a notable value right here. Taveras certified for arbitration forward of the 2024 season as a Tremendous Two man and earned $2.55MM final yr. In January, he and the Rangers averted arbitration for this yr, agreeing to a $4.75MM wage. That leaves about $3.7MM left to be paid out, which the M’s are taking over by making this declare.
That’s a reasonably small quantity within the baseball world, the place many guys are making eight-figure salaries yearly, but it surely’s not nothing for the Mariners. They reportedly had about $15MM to spend this winter. They ended up giving out lower than that, bringing again Jorge Polanco and signing Donovan Solano for a mixed $11.25MM. Maybe not coincidentally, including Taveras and his remaining wage results in a sum fairly near $15MM.
Perhaps that can give the membership a bit much less wiggle room so as to add on the deadline or maybe possession will greenlight additional spending in the event that they hold enjoying properly. Time will inform on that. But when the wager on Taveras pays off in Robles-like style, there might be advantages past this season. He’s nonetheless controllable through arbitration for one more two years after this one. He must carry out higher over the remainder of the season to be able to be tendered a contract however that’s precisely what the Mariners are hoping for.
If Taveras is ready to get again on monitor, the Rangers may find yourself kicking themselves, particularly since there’s an opportunity he’ll be thriving with a division rival for the subsequent few years. However there’s no assure of that occuring and so they’re most likely blissful about the associated fee financial savings within the quick time period. It was reported within the winter that Texas wished to get beneath the tax line in 2025 and that plan was confirmed by proprietor Ray Davis. They got here into the season a number of million beneath the road, in response to public estimates, although with a transparent probability of going over. They’ve plenty of gamers with sizable contract bonuses and people would bump up the membership’s tax quantity if triggered, one thing that MLBTR did a deep dive on final month.
With the M’s claiming Taveras and the remainder of this yr’s wage, that drops the Rangers additional away from the $241MM base threshold of the tax. As of some weeks in the past, RosterResource and Cot’s Baseball Contracts had the Rangers’ CBT quantity at $236.4MM and $237.8MM respectively however these estimates at the moment are listed at $234.1MM and $235.5MM.
Castillo, 30, was added to the roster in April. George Kirby began the season on the injured listing and Emerson Hancock bought lit up in his first begin of the yr. Castillo made a few spot begins earlier than being optioned to the minors. Hancock has since come again as much as retake a rotation spot with higher outcomes. Logan Gilbert is now on the IL as properly, prompting a Logan Evans promotion, however Kirby is on a rehab project and may be capable of rejoin the membership quickly.
The M’s are evidently keen to sacrifice a little bit of rotation depth, so Castillo goes into DFA limbo, which might final so long as every week. The waiver course of takes 48 hours, so any commerce prospects must be explored within the subsequent 5 days. Castillo’s MLB monitor report is fairly small however he’s been respectable within the minors and in Japan. From 2022 to 2025, he has a 2.44 ERA, 22.6% strikeout price and 6.7% stroll price in 59 minor league innings. He additionally pitched 143 1/3 NPB innings over 2023 and 2024 with a 3.01 ERA. Since he’s nonetheless optionable, he might have attraction for golf equipment wanting so as to add some Triple-A rotation depth. Picture courtesy of Robert Edwards, Imagn Photographs
