What new outfielder Leody Taveras said about joining the Mariners

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Leody Taveras started Tuesday morning in the middle of a road trip with the Texas Rangers on the East Coast.

By the end of the day, he had been claimed by the Mariners, flown cross-country from Boston to San Francisco, jumped in a car and eventually ended up at the team hotel in Sacramento around midnight.

And barely 12 hours later, he was in the starting lineup for Wednesday’s series finale against the Athletics with what turned out to be a memorable debut.

“A lot of questions in my mind,” Taveras said before Wednesday’s game. “(It’s) not easy, but this is the business. I don’t understand those things. I’m ready and happy to be part of the Seattle Mariners.”

A day after being claimed off waivers by the M’s, Taveras had one of the key moments in their 6-5 comeback victory over the Athletics. With two outs in the eighth inning, Taveras punched a 1-2 pitch through the left side of the infield to score pinch-runner Miles Mastrobuoni with the tying run.

He then became the winning run, scoring on Dylan Moore’s double.

“A great at-bat. And I think (he) got a pitch that he was looking for that was maybe a little bit higher in the zone, and instead of trying to do too much, (he) just stayed with it and hit it through that left side,” M’s manager Dan Wilson said.

Taveras was claimed after he was placed on waivers by the Rangers last Sunday. Acquiring the switch-hitting outfielder means the M’s are on the hook for the rest of his $4.75 million salary for this season — about $3.5 million. The Mariners also retained two more years of club control as Taveras will be arbitration-eligible for two more seasons before hitting free agency.

But if Seattle can get Taveras back to the player he was two seasons ago when he posted a 2.4 WAR via FanGraphs, then the Mariners may have found this year’s version of Victor Robles and help solve some of the roster issues created by injuries to their outfield.

“Change of scenery is a real thing sometimes, and I think this is an opportunity, obviously, for that,” Wilson said before the game. “And Leody is a good player. He’s a very talented player, great tools, and we’re excited to see him on our side.”

Taveras, 26, appeared in 30 games this season for the Rangers with 24 starts in center field. He was batting .241 with a .601 OPS in the early stages of the season. He admitted to being a little surprised by the Rangers’ decision to place him on waivers, but was trying to look forward to his opportunity with the M’s and specifically no longer having to face the pitching staff.

“I’m happy. All I remember is the pitching staff we have here, and I’m happy to be part of them. I don’t have to face them. I know it’s going to be fun to be here,” Taveras said.

With Julio Rodríguez entrenched in center field, Taveras’ debut with the M’s came in right field — the first time in his MLB career playing in right field. Each of his 492 career appearances in the field before Wednesday came in center field.

Taveras said he spent some time in right field during spring training with the Rangers, so it’s not entirely unfamiliar. He finished his Mariners debut 1 for 4 at the plate with a couple of strikeouts but also a memorable first hit.

“Welcome to the Mariners,” Wilson said.

Matilda, on a shirt

Andrés Muñoz is continuing to support the Seattle Area Feline Rescue beyond his recent visit and auction donation.

Muñoz will be featured alongside his rescue cat Matilda on a T-shirt that is expected to go on sale at T-Mobile Park sometime during the M’s upcoming homestand.

The dark blue shirt is titled “Fast & Furriest,” and $5 from the sale of the shirts will go to the Rescue.

The announcement of the shirt came on the day Muñoz recorded his 13th save of the season working the ninth inning.

Streaks, extended

Randy Arozarena extended his on-base streak to 30 games with two walks and a single. It’s the longest streak by an M’s player since Teoscar Hernandez also had a 30-game streak in 2023.

J.P. Crawford also extended the longest active hitting streak in baseball to 15 games with his single in the third inning.

M’s send Castillo to Baltimore

The Mariners traded right-handed pitcher Luis F. Castillo to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations.

Castillo, not to be confused with fellow M’s pitcher Luis M. Castillo, made two starts for the Mariners earlier this season, allowing seven runs (six earned) across seven innings with 12 hits, seven walks and five strikeouts.

Luis F. Castillo, 30, was designated for assignment Tuesday after the Mariners claimed outfielder Leody Taveras on waivers from the Texas Rangers.