The Mariners activated J.P. Crawford off the injured list, but opted to keep a rookie infielder Brock Rodden over veteran Leo Rivas.
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners will be looking to make it two-straight series wins against National League playoff teams when it takes on the Philadelphia Phillies in the second of a three-game set at 6:40 p.m. PT on Tuesday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
The Mariners will have one of their most experienced players back in the fold. The team activated shortstop/third baseman J.P. Crawford (wrist inflammation) off the injured list Tuesday and optioned Leo Rivas to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers in a corresponding move.
Crawford's activation wasn't a surprise. Seattle general manager Justin Hollander said Monday that the team would activate him if everything went well with his pregame routine that day.
The shocker was the corresponding move the team made to make room for Crawford on the roster.
The Mariners optioned Rivas to Triple-A but kept recently-called up infielder Brock Rodden, who'll be starting at shortstop for the team's game against Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Both Rivas and Rodden are switch-hitting infielders capable of moving along the infield, but the former has more major league experience and was with the M's when they made their push to the playoffs as the second-seed in the American League last year.
"I think with J.P., he'll definitely bounce back a little bit from (shortstop) to third,' Seattle manager Dan Wilson said in a pregame interview Tuesday. " ... I think in terms of Leo and Brock, these are tough decisions. I think Brock has done a really nice job at short and has brought some good at-bats, as well, and some big hits. As did Leo. ... Just felt like Brock brought a little bit of a spark and that's a big reason why he's here."
Since being selected from Triple-A and making his major league debut, Rodden has slashed .214/.281/.357 with a .638 OPS in nine games and has hit two doubles and a triple with three RBIs.
Rivas has slashed .147/.270/.190 with a .460 OPS in 48 games this year and has hit three doubles and a triple with nine RBIs. Rivas provided the walk-off RBI single in the Mariners' 6-5 extra-innings win against the Chicago Cubs on Friday.
Which player Seattle decided to option Tuesday, it likely would have amounted to a moot point regardless.
There's a strong chance Rodden is the player who ends up being optioned when utility player/typical starting third baseman Brendan Donovan is activated off the seven-day concussion injured list. That move would also likely lead to Crawford moving back to shortstop.
But, there's a benefit for the team to option Rivas over Rodden.
Rodden had a strong showing in the team's series on its most recent road trip against the Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros, but he's still young in his major league career and doesn't have much experience. Now, Rodden will have the opportunity to build more major league at-bats and prove himself as a capable contributor for the Mariners as they continue to push for a spot in the playoffs.
If Seattle does feel it needs Rivas' veteran experience, it has the option of bringing him back up when major league rosters expand Sept. 1.
"I think that's certainly something to consider," Wilson said. "We consider everything. Always looking to get better in some way, whether it's adding a player or experience. As (the roster expansion) draws a little closer — as we've seen, every day can bring something a little bit different. So your needs can be different right at that time. So, we'll continue to look at it. But, certainly something to consider."
