The Seattle Mariners have signed former All-Star first baseman Ty France on absolute exemptions Sunday, According to multiple reports.
If he clears waivers, the Mariners will have the option to assign France to the Minors. Because of his service time, France will have the option to decline the assignment.
The Mariners made the decision amid a slide in the AL West standings and the worst slump of France’s career. France, 30, is batting .224/.313/.351 in 87 games with eight homers and 31 RBIs. A career .264 hitter, France was named an All-Star with the Mariners in 2022 while batting .274/.338/.436 with 20 homers and 83 RBIs. He is in his sixth MLB season.
Rookie Tyler Locklear will take over at first base. A former second-round pick, he is 6-for-30 with two homers, three RBIs and one stolen base in 11 MLB games this season.
Mariners hope to shake up stagnant offense
Seattle made the move amid a larger offensive slump and a heated race with the Houston Astros for the AL West crown. The Mariners are the worst hitting team in baseball with a .218 batting average and rank 28th out of 30 teams in runs scored. Their 1,038 strikeouts are by far the most in baseball. The Oakland Athletics have the second-most strikeouts with 967.
Despite the offensive struggles, the Mariners got off to a 44-31 start to the season and led the AL West by as many as 10 games before the All-Star break. They went 8-14 over their final 22 games before the break, allowing the Astros to get back into the race.
Houston took control of the division by beating Seattle in two straight games since returning from the break. The Mariners won Game 3 of the series to avoid a sweep and move into a tie with the Astros atop the division on Sunday.
France started Sunday’s game on the bench, but replaced Julio Rodriguez in the lineup for just one at-bat after Rodriguez left the game late with a sprained ankle. X-rays on Rodriguez’s ankle were negative.
The Mariners reportedly gave up on France shortly after the conclusion of the game.