SEATTLE -- With their “stepback” plan in full effect for 2019, the Mariners now appear to be starting the “sell-off” mode with some of their remaining veterans as Jay Bruce was traded to the Phillies along with cash Sunday for Minor League infielder Jake Scheiner.

Rookie outfielder Braden Bishop was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma to take Bruce’s roster spot. Scheiner, a 23-year-old who hit .256 with two home runs in 44 games at Class A Advanced Clearwater, will report to Seattle’s Class A Advanced Modesto club.

The Associated Press reported that Seattle will pay about $18.5 million of the approximately $22 million remaining on Bruce’s contract, which extends through 2020.

Bruce was in the Mariners’ clubhouse on Sunday morning packing his bags, and he said he’ll be joining the Phillies on Monday in San Diego.

“It’s part of it,” Bruce said. “I figured this would be the situation. You never really know when it’s going to happen. It’s bittersweet. I really like the group of guys here. I got to know some of them and had great relationships. It’s part of the business, though. I get to go somewhere I have a chance to win, and at this point in my career, that’s pretty paramount for me. So it is what it is.”

The Phillies currently lead the National League East, while the Mariners have dropped to last in the American League West.

“I look forward to going over there and helping the Phillies hopefully win a championship,” Bruce said. “That’s my goal. I just want to win.”

Bruce was one of several veterans acquired as part of last winter’s makeover by general manager Jerry Dipoto in exchange for moving bigger contracts. And while the Mariners appreciated the 32-year-old’s clubhouse presence and middle-of-the-order power, he didn’t fit in the long-term plans any more than the previously departed Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz, Jean Segura, James Paxton, Mike Zunino, Alex Colome and others who were traded or let go last offseason as the club looks more to 2021 and beyond.

“I just hope I leave the place a little better than I found it,” Bruce said. “That’s all I can hope. They have a good group of guys that are going to take over and hopefully bring this thing back to where it should be. This is a great city, a great baseball city. There’s been a lot of history here and great players come through here. And I know they’re trying to get back there.”

After getting off to a surprising 13-2 start, the Mariners had lost 34 of their last 46 games going into Sunday’s series finale with the Angels. But the plan all along has been to gather younger players and payroll flexibility to make a more-realistic push in the next few years.

“I feel like there are a lot of things going on here that are positive right now,” Bruce said “I know a lot of these quote-unquote stepbacks or rebuilds or whatever you want to say can be lengthy and there can be some dry times. But this is a good group. It’s a good core group and they have a lot of great pieces and I think they’re definitely headed in the right direction. The more resilient and consistent everyone can be with their daily approach to the game will only help this whole thing in the end."

Healthy again after an injury-plagued 2018 with the Mets, Bruce appears capable of contributing to a contending team and the Phillies are looking to fill a hole created by their situation with Odubel Herrera, who was placed on administrative leave as Major League Baseball investigates an alleged domestic violence incident that happened Monday night in Atlantic City, N.J.

Bruce hit .212/.283/.533 with 14 homers and 28 RBIs in 47 games for the Mariners. His batting average has been low all season, but 25 of his 35 hits have gone for extra bases, and he’s clearly regained the power stroke that helped him reach his 300th career home run in Friday’s 4-3 win over the Angels.

Bruce became one of eight active Major Leaguers with 300 homers and 300 doubles. He has played most of his career in right field, but he has some experience in left, including six games this season, and also started 15 games at first base this year.

Bruce was acquired by the Mariners as one of five players in return for Cano and Edwin Diaz, with his two-year, $28 million contract serving as partial salary relief for the Mets as they took on the remaining five years and $120 million on Cano’s deal.

Designated hitter/first baseman Edwin Encarnacion figures to be another veteran who could be moved before the July 31 Trade Deadline, along with holdovers like Dee Gordon and Mike Leake, who both have contracts that expire next year.

Worth noting

• Hunter Strickland threw 20 pitches in the bullpen prior to Sunday’s game and said all went well. It was the first time that the veteran right-hander, who was serving as Seattle's closer, has thrown off a mound since straining his right oblique in his third appearance of the season back in March. He’s targeting a potential mid-June return.

• Gordon and Ryon Healy both took some swings in the cage Saturday and manager Scott Servais hopes they can advance to taking full batting practice Monday. Both went on the 10-day injured list on May 21, Gordon with a deep bone bruise in his right wrist and Healy with a lower back issue.