The Mariners designated France for assignment Tuesday.
France was placed on irrevocable outright waivers Sunday and went unclaimed. The 30-year-old will have the option to accept an outright assignment to the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate or decline the assignment and elect free agency. Although France is having a down year with a .662 OPS through 88 games, he has a solid MLB track record and should garner interest if he hits the open market.
The Mariners placed France on irrevocable outright waivers Sunday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
France is now eligible to be claimed by the 29 other teams in the league, but if no team is willing to foot the bill on the money remaining on his $6.78 million salary for 2024, the Mariners can send him to the minors. That being said, France has the option to decline reporting to the minors as a result of his MLB service time. Additionally, there's a possibility that he clears waivers and remains a member of Seattle's roster, something that happened with the Blue Jays' Kevin Kiermaier earlier in July. France has produced a disappointing .223 average with eight home runs, 31 RBI and 28 runs scored over 88 games with Seattle so far this season. Tyler Locklear is expected to be called up from Triple-A Tacoma and will get full-time at-bats at first base, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.com.
France is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.
France has gone 0-for-10 with three strikeouts over his past four games and will sit for Sunday's series finale versus Houston. Luke Raley will receive a start at first base while Dylan Moore mans left field.
France is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
Mariners manager Scott Servais will give France an early head start on the All-Star break after the 30-year-old had started each of the last six games while going 6-for-25 with three doubles, two RBI and one run. Luke Raley will fill in for France at first base.
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Mariners' Ty France: Multi-hit effort in win
Rotowire
France went 2-for-5 with an RBI, a double and a run in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
France drove home the second of the Mariners' 11 runs with a first-inning fielder's choice and eventually came around to score. He has now hit safely in four straight games and reached base in nine of his last 10 contests, but walks and singles have been his calling card -- the veteran has just three extra-base hits over 86 plate appearances since returning from the injured list June 18.
