Mariners option Wisdom to Tacoma, outright González
This browser does not support the video element.
The Mariners announced a pair of roster moves on Monday, optioning corner infielder Patrick Wisdom to Triple-A Tacoma and outrighting right-hander Domingo González to Triple-A after he cleared waivers. Seattle designated González for assignment to make room for Michael Rucker on the 40-man roster last week.
The Wisdom move was presumably made to clear a spot on the active roster for J.P. Crawford. Crawford was placed on the IL on June 8 (retroactive to June 6) with a right hand contusion after getting hit by a 95.6 mph fastball from Framber Valdez on June 5. He’s first eligible to return on Tuesday.
Wisdom had been seeing more playing time with Crawford out, but he’s hitting only .122 with one homer, four RBIs and a .402 OPS over 44 plate appearances this season.
Crawford has been Seattle’s regular shortstop since 2019, but he has been taking infield drills almost exclusively at third base lately. It could be a sign that the Mariners are planning to keep rookie Colt Emerson at short, where he’s played while Crawford has been on the IL.
Crawford, a pending free agent, first pitched the position switch weeks ago, when Emerson was called up. The 31-year-old Crawford won a Gold Glove Award in 2020, but he ranks second to last among shortstops in Statcast’s fielding run value metric (-27 FRV) since ’22.