Leody Taveras remains with Mariners organization after DFA

Leody Taveras remains in the Seattle Mariners organization – and on their payroll.

The team announced Friday that the 26-year-old outfielder has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma, coming four days after he was designated for assignment to make room for Dominic Canzone to be called up from the Rainiers.

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It was the second time this season that Taveras was DFA’d, which was also the case before the Mariners picked him up on a waiver claim on May 6 from the AL West rival Texas Rangers.

With no other team claiming Taveras, the M’s remain on the hook for the remainder of his $4.75 million due to him this season so long as he doesn’t decline his assignment to Triple-A and elect free agency, which would include forfeiting his salary. Taveras has two more years of arbitration eligibility before he is set to become a free agent.

While that’s not good news if the Mariners find themselves needing to add payroll while looking for additions before the July 31 MLB trade deadline, they at least get a chance to see if they can help Taveras, a former top prospect, get on track with the Rainiers.

The switch-hitting Taveras has yet to live up to the billing he had as a prospect in six MLB seasons. His best year was 2023, when he slashed .266/.312/.421 for a .733 OPS with 14 home runs, 31 doubles and 14 stolen bases to help the Rangers win their first World Series title. But he hit just .229 with a .641 OPS in 2024 with Texas, and sat at a .241 average and .601 OPS in 30 games with the Rangers this season before he was DFA’d.

Seattle picked up Taveras after losing both Victor Robles and Luke Raley, their top two options in right field, to longer-term injuries. Robles, who began the season as Seattle’s starter in right and its leadoff hitter, may be able to return late this season from a shoulder disclocation and fracture suffered on April 6, while Raley just began a minor league rehab assignment with Tacoma on Thursday night as he looks to return from an oblique strain.

Taveras served as Seattle’s primary right fielder and the next option in center field behind Julio Rodríguez, appearing in 28 games in May and early June. He hit just .174 with a .198 on-base, .272 slugging and .470 OPS with two homers and three doubles for the M’s, and accounted for minus-0.6 bWAR.

The Mariners have a 33-34 record and are 4 1/2 games back of Houston in the AL West entering Friday, just three weeks after they led the division by 3 1/2 games. They resume play after a day off Thursday by opening a six-game homestand at T-Mobile Park at 7:10 p.m. Friday against the Cleveland Guardians (35-32). Radio coverage on Seattle Sports will start at 2 p.m. with Wyman and Bob live from the ballpark in Edgar’s Cantina, followed at 5:30 p.m. with the pregame show.

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