Mariners send J.P. Crawford to minors

The Seattle Mariners optioned shortstop J.P. Crawford to the minors on Wednesday.

What It Means:

Crawford was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies last December. The Mariners gain a year of control over Crawford's contract if he spends the first month of the season in the minors, so that may have influenced the club's decision. Crawford is also just a career .214 batter with 3 home runs and 18 RBI in 225 plate appearances in the majors, so the 24-year-old could use some seasoning.

Prior to this move, numberFire's models expected Crawford to bat .225 with 9 HR, 48 RBI, 38 R, and 6 SB across 437 PA in 2019.

Source: Greg Johns