Infielder Taylor optioned to Triple-A

MINNEAPOLIS -- Infielder Chris Taylor was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma after Thursday's 9-5 loss to the Twins as the Mariners opened up a roster spot for the expected addition of highly regarded prospect Ketel Marte.

No corresponding move was announced Thursday, but Marte was pulled from Tacoma's lineup in El Paso on Thursday and is expected to join the Mariners on Friday, along with designated hitter/first baseman Jesus Montero.

The Mariners already had an opening for Montero on their 25-man roster after trading Dustin Ackley to the Yankees prior to Thursday's game and Taylor's departure opens the way for Marte.

Taylor went 1-for-4 with a double Thursday and has hit .170 in 37 games this season for Seattle.

With Robinson Cano sidelined by a strained abdominal muscle, Marte can play second base and also has recently received some playing time in center field, where he'd be a backup option to Austin Jackson now that Ackley is gone.

Marte, 21, is a switch-hitter who has put up a .314/.359/.410 line in 65 games with Tacoma and played in the Futures Game earlier this month in Cincinnati. He's the Mariners' No. 2-ranked prospect by MLB.com.

Montero is also expected to rejoin the Mariners after continuing his hot hitting for Tacoma, where he's put up a .346/.388/.551 line with 16 home runs and 75 RBIs in 93 games. Montero played five games with Seattle in a brief callup earlier this month, going 3-for-10 with one RBI and three walks.