SEATTLE MARINERS

Mariners trade DFA’d first baseman Ty France to Reds

Jul 29, 2024, 10:30 AM | Updated: 10:44 am

After being designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners last week, first baseman Ty France has a new home.

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The Mariners traded the 30-year-old France and cash considerations to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for 21-year-old minor league catcher Andruw Salcedo on Monday.

Salcedo, a Colombian native, has batted .246/.347/.330 with four home runs and a .676 OPS in 98 career games across four minor league seasons with the Reds. Salcedo has spent a large chunk of this season on the development list, which was created in 2021 as a way for prospects to focus on certain skills outside of game situations. He has appeared in seven games this year, batting 3 for 16 at High-A Daytona.

France was designated for assignment by Seattle last Tuesday after clearing outright waivers. He had been mired in another rough season at the plate, batting just .224/.313/.351 with eight home runs, 14 doubles and a career-low .664 OPS in 87 games. He particularly struggled over the past two months, hitting just .159 with one homer and a .534 OPS since June 1.

France was an All-Star in 2022 after a strong first half of the season, but his career trajectory flipped dramatically following a midseason injury. During a June 23, 2022, game against the Oakland Athletics, France was set to receive a ball at first base when Sheldon Neuse collided with France’s glove arm on a play at the bag. France suffered a sprained left elbow and missed two weeks.

Prior to the injury, France batted .289/.362/.448 with 39 homers and an .810 OPS in 334 career games. After the injury, he hit just .239/.319/.369 with 30 homers and a .688 OPS in 315 games.

The Mariners acquired France at the 2020 trade deadline in a seven-player trade with the San Diego Padres that also brought All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz to Seattle.

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