The Mariners announced that they have placed first baseman Evan White (strained left hip flexor) and infielder Ty France (left wrist inflammation) on the 10-day injured list. They recalled infielders Donovan Walton and Jack Mayfield in corresponding moves.
White struggled as a rookie in 2020 after signing a six-year, $24MM contract, and his offensive production has gotten even worse this season. Although White has slashed his strikeout rate by almost 12 percent since last year, he has still only mustered a .144/.202/.237 line with two home runs in 104 plate appearances. The 25-year-old’s wRC+ (29) ranks last in the majors among hitters who have amassed 100-plus PA, and though White’s .241 expected weighted on-base average paints a better picture than his .200 real wOBA, it’s still a dreary figure.
When White hasn’t started at first base this year, the Mariners have turned to France and Jose Marmolejos. They’re now also without France, who has been mired in a slump this month after a highly productive April. However, France still owns an above-average line of .229/.333/.366 (108 wRC+) with three home runs in 153 trips to the plate, and he has been versatile. Most of his work has come at designated hitter, but along with lining up there and at first base, he has logged 15 starts at second and another at third.
Dramatic pic.
Yeah it really made me pull for these guys to get better from their injuries quick.
White was smart to sign that contract.
It’s a gamble for both sides. Looks great for White. Looks horrible for Acuna. For every John Singleton or Scott Kingery. There is a Jose Altuve or Tim Anderson.
Very true stuff. Just like there is for every living, breathing Bud Hull; there is someone else’s responsive and cordial Steve Nebraska.
Very cool picture
Evan White took the Jon Singleton route in locking in guaranteed money, even though they know that they’re not very good. White is having a historically-bad career so far.
Weird seeing him win the Gold Glove in last year’s shortened season since the GG used to be awarded to offensive players. Nice to see that happening less, but still, ouch… what a horrible year.
At least he’s not a pothead like Singleton was. Singleton knew he’d be suspended at some point, so he locked it in.
Smart thinking on both their parts, but still not good for their current/former teams.
Hopefully the Mariners take the Rusney Castillo route once somebody better comes along at 1B and just outright White off the roster and let him collect his salary in the minor leagues.
It’s a little early to completely write White off yet. He was thrown to the wolves last year, never having played at AAA. Dipoto came close to saying that optioning White to the minors was a possibility if his hitting didn’t come around. I think if he gets some time at Tacoma, they might get him to concentrate on shortening his swing, leveling it out a bit, and not lunge at everything. It’s obvious White has enrolled at Launch Angle University, and that’s not the kind off hitter he should try to be. If they don’t fix his swing, he’ll be another top M’s hitting prospect rushed to the majors and ruined (see Mike Zunino, Dustin Ackley, Nick Franklin, Brad Miller, Jesus Montero, etc.) He definitely needs more time in the minors, so maybe once he’s over his hip flexor issue, he’ll head to Tacoma.
No way you can say White is a write off. Everything is about hitting. Watch MLB when they do their shows they talk off and ignore D. White is awful so far at the plate. Hopefully they make the long term decision and keep him at Tacoma. Winning isn’t the major thing this year it is getting experience. Let White fix his swing and be the single and double hitter he is supposed to be. Then sprinkle in aHR or two.
White has to go down to AA. Dude has ZERO approach at the plate. He’s lost.
Makin room for Albert.
Is a .229/.333/.366 slash line considered above average for a 1B/DH type?
Obviously the minimum would be .245/.350/.475. So no.
France went cold after a HBP on the 19th (I think). White simply never got going, and though he cut some of the Ks for a while, the Ks were starting to creep back up. His issues appear to be 3-fold.
Both players might benefit from a break and a rehab stint in Tacoma. The fact that Seattle didn’t bring in any insurance makes this sting worse, but at least the man who set the restrictive budget and imposed restrictions on long-term deals, Kevin Mather, is gone.
This reminds me, there’s a video of him boasting about using covid as a scapegoat to extort fans. It was from late 2020, but only recently leaked. Go to Dome and Bedlam to check it out.
Mather comes off as the type of guy who likes or hear himself talk and when you talk too much, things that aren’t supposed to come out, come out. I hear Theo is free…
White needs to go down to the minors to fix his swing after he gets off the IL.