M’s player from Luis Castillo trade haul elects free agency

Outfielder Nolan Jones’ time with the Seattle Mariners is over after less than two months.

Mariners GM addresses 3 players who had down years in 2026

Jones, who was one of three players acquired in the trade that sent right-hander Luis Castillo to the Chicago White Sox, elected free agency on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old Jones was seen as a throw-in piece of the package the Mariners received from the White Sox, which was headlined by reliever Seranthony Domínguez and catching prospect Boston Smith.

Jones, a second-round pick in the 2016 draft, was a breakout player and finished fourth in National League Rookie of the Year voting while with the Colorado Rockies in 2023, but he hasn’t played in the majors since 2025.

During that breakout ’23 campaign, the left-hand-hitting Jones slashed .297/.389/.542 with a .931 OPS, 20 homers, 22 doubles and 20 stolen bases. He also led MLB with 19 outfield assists and was fourth among rookies with 3.8 fWAR.

But over the 2024 and ’25 seasons, Jones posted a .218/.307/.311 slash line with a .618 OPS, eight homers and 27 doubles in 215 games. Among players with at least 700 plate appearances over that stretch, his minus-1.3 fWAR was third worst in baseball.

In 122 games at Triple-A this year with three different organizations, Jones slashed .253/.356/.443 with a .799 OPS, 19 homers, 22 doubles, 15 stolen bases, 80 walks and 131 strikeouts in 122 games.

Jones was also traded from the Cleveland Guardians to the White Sox in June in exchange for $250,000 in international bonus pool money.

Seattle Mariners news and more

• GM Justin Hollander details what the Mariners have to do better in ’27
• If this was it for J.P. Crawford, he’s left a lasting impact on Mariners
• Drayer: Seattle Mariners focus on accountability, making a shift for 2027

Related

Mariners GM addresses 3 players who had down years in 2026AL West: Rangers’ Corey Seager played with bone spur in elbowSparse crowd, empty seats greet .500 AL West champion Astros in playoff openerMLB considers Grand Teton National Park for a game, prompting concernAL West: Athletics OF Zack Gelof sues Detroit Tigers for injuryGM Justin Hollander details what the Mariners have to do better in ’27