The Seattle Mariners announced on Friday that they have optioned infielder Luis Urías to Triple-A Tacoma. To fill the vacant roster spot, rookie outfielder Jonatan Clase has been recalled.
The decision to send Urías down is somewhat unexpected. He has been a regular presence at third base this month but has struggled offensively, posting a disappointing .152/.264/.316 line in 91 plate appearances this season. Meanwhile, J.P. Crawford returned from the injured list earlier in the week, and Jorge Polanco, after dealing with a sore hamstring, has played two of the past three games.
With Crawford and Polanco expected to handle the middle infield duties, Manager Scott Servais indicated that Josh Rojas and Dylan Moore will share third base responsibilities. Rojas, a left-handed hitter, initially started the season at third base before moving to second in Polanco’s absence. He has put up a solid .286/.354/.421 line over 41 games, a marked improvement from his 2023 performance.
Dylan Moore has been even more impressive. Filling in at shortstop while Crawford was injured, Moore has hit .248/.359/.504 over 145 plate appearances, with six home runs, including three in his last eight games. Notably, Moore has excelled against left-handed pitchers, boasting a .289/.391/.632 line in 46 plate appearances, while also performing well against right-handers with a .343 on-base percentage and .446 slugging in 99 plate appearances, despite a modest .229 average.
Moore’s versatility allows him to play second base and corner outfield positions, ensuring regular playing time even against right-handed pitching. He is likely to take over third base against left-handed pitchers, replacing Rojas, who has struggled with left-on-left matchups throughout his career.
Urías will seek to regain his form with consistent playing time in the Pacific Coast League. This marks the second consecutive year he has been optioned, as he spent 26 games in the minors last season while with the Brewers.
Starting 2024 with four years and 98 days of MLB service, Urías needs around three more weeks in the majors to reach the five-year mark this season. However, his future remains uncertain. Playing on a $5M salary this year, he would likely receive a small raise if offered arbitration next year. Without a significant performance turnaround, Urías could become a non-tender candidate for the Mariners, similar to last offseason when he was with the Red Sox before Seattle traded reliever Isaiah Campbell to Boston for him.
As Urías heads to Triple-A, the Mariners hope he can find his rhythm and make a strong case for a return to the majors.
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