Off-day plot: Seattle Mariners OF option, leave roster spot open

The Seattle Mariners are putting their day off to good use.

Rookie outfielder Jonatan Clase has been optioned to Triple-A Tacoma, the Mariners announced Monday morning, and with no corresponding move, it leaves the final spot open on their 26-man active roster.

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Seattle has Monday off before starting a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m., which means the M’s have time to decide who will fill Clase’s spot on the roster.

The move was likely made to get regular action for the 22-year-old Clase. The Mariners last called up the switch-hitter from Tacoma on May 24, replacing Luis Urías, who was optioned to the Rainiers in a matching move. Although Clase got starts in left field for Seattle on May 24, May 26 and May 27, he has made only three brief appearances off the bench since then.

Clase was called up to make his MLB debut on April 16. In 15 games over two stints with the Mariners this year, he is 6-for-34 (.176) at the plate with one double, one walk, two stolen bases and 13 strikeouts. . With the Rainiers this year, Clase has a .255/.376/.482 slash line for an .858 OPS with four homers, seven doubles, three triples, 22 walks, 12 steals and 30 strikeouts in 29 of games.

The Mariners have several options in Triple-A with MLB experience who could fill a similar role on the active roster to Clas as speed off the bench: outfielder Cade Marlowe (.219/.320/.357, .677 OPS with Tacoma), the utility Samad Taylor (.237/.361/.337, .698 OPS) and outfielder Leo Rivas (.259/.396/.370, .766 OPS).

Seattle could also be close to getting veteran second baseman Jorge Polanco back from a hamstring strain. Polanco would be eligible to return from the 10-day injured list Thursday, though he may be sent on a rehab assignment with a minor league affiliate before returning to the M’s.

Mariners Radio Network coverage of Tuesday’s game will be carried on Seattle Sports 710 AM, the Seattle Sports app and SeattleSports.com beginning at 5:30 p.m., with the pregame show. For details on how to stream Mariners broadcasts from Seattle Sports, click here.

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