Upton elected free agency after being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Upton saw sporadic playing time over the last few weeks and will lose his spot on the active roster after Kyle Lewis (concussion) was reinstated from the injured list Friday. Upton hit just .125 with a homer, three RBI and two runs over 17 games with the Mariners but will attempt to seek out other options as a free agent.
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Mariners' Justin Upton: On base twice Sunday
Rotowire
Upton went 1-for-2 with a walk and a run in a win over the Blue Jays on Sunday.
Upton drew the start in left field and had a reasonably productive day from the No. 8 spot in the order. The veteran outfielder had most recently been in the lineup last Monday, and he hadn't hit safely in a start since June 25.
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Mariners' Justin Upton: Sits after two straight starts
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Upton is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Padres.
He'll retreat to the bench after going 0-for-8 with four strikeouts while starting in both of the past two games. Even with Jesse Winker set to miss the rest of the week while serving a suspension and with Kyle Lewis (concussion) and Taylor Trammell (hamstring) still stuck on the injured list, the righty-hitting Upton may still be forced to settle for short-side platoon work in the corner outfield or at designated hitter. Dylan Moore, Abraham Toro and Sam Haggerty all look to be ahead of Upton in the pecking order for playing time.
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Mariners' Justin Upton: First Mariner homer comes in clutch
Rotowire
Upton hit a solo home run in his only at-bat against the Athletics on Saturday.
Upton didn't start the contest, but he was brought in as a pinch hitter with Seattle down a run in the eighth inning. The veteran chose a good time to hit his first long ball as a member of the Mariners, going deep to left field to tie the score. It was just the second extra-base hit this season for Upton, who has struggled with a .152/.282/.273 slash line through 39 plate appearances.
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Mariners' Justin Upton: Out of lineup Saturday
Rotowire
Upton isn't starting Saturday's game against the Athletics.
Upton hasn't had much playing time recently and will be out of the lineup for a fifth consecutive game. Sam Haggerty is starting in right field and batting ninth.
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Mariners' Justin Upton: Still not starting
Rotowire
Upton is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against Oakland.
Upton will get a breather for a third consecutive matchup after he went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts over his last two games. Sam Haggerty is taking over in right field and batting ninth.
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Mariners' Justin Upton: Remains on bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Upton isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Orioles.
Upton went 2-for-16 with an RBI, three walks and nine strikeouts over his last five games and will be on the bench for a second consecutive matchup. Sam Haggerty is taking over in right field with Abraham Toro serving as the designated hitter.
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Mariners' Justin Upton: Not starting Tuesday
Rotowire
Upton is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Orioles.
Upton started the past four games and will take a seat after going 2-for-12 with an RBI, two walks and seven strikeouts. The 34-year-old has been a regular in the lineup since being promoted by the Mariners on June 18, but the acquisition of Carlos Santana, who is starting Tuesday, could result in a diminished role for Upton.
Upton, who went 1-for-3 with a walk in a win over the Angels on Saturday, has now reached safely in six straight games.
The veteran has just one extra-base hit, a double, over his first 31 plate appearances in a Mariners uniform, but his ability to get on base consistently of late is encouraging. Upton can still play the corner outfield spots and has made an appearance apiece in right and left field thus far, but the DH role that has served as his primary path to playing time so far could become mostly unavailable as part of the domino effect of Kyle Lewis' eventual return from a concussion.
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Mariners' Justin Upton: Not starting Thursday
Rotowire
Upton isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics.
Upton started the last six games and went 2-for-19 with a double, an RBI, two walks and eight strikeouts during that time. Eugenio Suarez will serve as the designated hitter while Abraham Toro starts at third base Thursday.
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Mariners' Justin Upton: Serving as DH in matinee
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Upton (head) is serving as the designated hitter and batting sixth in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Angels.
Upton was hit in the head by a pitch during Friday's win over the Angels but is feeling better Saturday and will be in the lineup for the first half of the twin bill. He went 0-for-2 with a strikeout prior to exiting Friday's matchup.
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Mariners' Justin Upton: Feeling better after HBP
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Manager Scott Servais said after Friday's win over the Angels that Upton is "feeling OK" after being hit in the head by a pitch during the game, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.
Upton made his Mariners debut Friday but was removed from the game in the bottom of the fifth inning after being hit by a pitch. In spite of the outfielder's early departure, Servais is hopeful that the 34-year-old will be available to serve as the designated hitter Saturday against the Angels.
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Mariners' Justin Upton: Needs time in minors to build up
Rotowire
Mariners manager Scott Servais said Sunday that Upton will report to the team's extended spring training complex in Arizona to work out for about a week before advancing to Triple-A Tacoma for game action, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Though Upton inked a major-league deal with Seattle on Saturday, he'll need some time to pick up reps at the plate after he had been on the open market since early April when the Angels elected to release him. Once the Mariners are confident that he's regained his timing at the plate and is in good physical condition, Upton could challenge for an everyday role at one of the corner-outfield spots. Aside from hotshot rookie Julio Rodriguez, the Mariners have gotten little offensive production this season from their other outfield and designated-hitter options.
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Mariners' Justin Upton: Signs with Seattle
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Upton agreed to a major-league contract with the Mariners on Saturday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
After being released by the Angels on April 8, Upton remained unsigned to this point in the season. The Mariners are now signing him to their major-league roster, while they'll only be responsible for paying him about $550,000. Upton still possesses the ability to hit for power, launching 17 homers in 90 games last season, but his .211 average was a liability and the Angels elected to move on this spring. He'll likely alternate between the outfield and designated hitter with Seattle.
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Justin Upton: Released by Angels
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Upton was released by the Angels on Friday.
Upton was designated for assignment Saturday and went unclaimed on waivers, so the Angels will now be responsible for his $28 million salary this season, and the 34-year-old will be free to sign with another team. Upton appeared in 90 games last year and slashed .211/.296/.409 with 17 homers, 47 runs, 41 RBI and four steals. However, it wouldn't be surprising to see him carve out playing time as a veteran presence in some team's outfield this year.
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Angels' Justin Upton: Designated for assignment
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Upton was designated for assignment Saturday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Upton hasn't recorded a wRC+ above 92 since 2018, which simply isn't good enough for a corner outfielder. The Angels will eat $28 million by letting him go, which looks like a clear sign of faith in young outfielders Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh, who have plenty of potential but haven't put it all together yet. Despite his recent struggles, Upton could still generate interest on the open market after he clears waivers. He may fit on the short side of a platoon somewhere, as he struggled to a 76 wRC+ against righties last year but managed a 130 wRC+ against lefties.
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Angels' Justin Upton: Could see time at first base
Rotowire
Upton could see time at first base this season, MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger reports.
Upton is in his final year with the Angels and appears ready to fill in wherever needed, including at a position he's never played before. If Upton does see time at first base it could come in a platoon role against left-handed pitching, splitting time with Jared Walsh.
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Angels' Justin Upton: Shifts to 60-day IL
Rotowire
Upton (back) was transferred to 60-day injured list Thursday.
Upton has already been ruled out for the remainder of the season, so this move comes as little surprise. He'll end his campaign with a .211/.296/.409 line, though he did manage to launch 17 homers across 361 plate appearances.
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Angels' Justin Upton: Done for season
Rotowire
Upton (back) has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2021 season, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Upton was placed on the 10-day injured list at the beginning of September due to a right lumbar strain, and he hasn't progressed quickly enough to play again this year. With the Angels firmly out of the playoff race, the team likely saw no need to push the veteran outfielder to play again in 2021. Upton finishes the season with a .211/.296/.409 slash line, 17 home runs, 41 RBI, four stolen bases and 47 runs scored in 90 games.
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Angels' Justin Upton: Goes on IL
Rotowire
Upton was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a right lumbar strain.
The back injury kept Upton out of action Saturday and will now put him on the shelf until Sept. 14 at the earliest. It's unclear whether the 33-year-old will be back when eligible or if he'll require a more extended stay on the IL. Juan Lagares figures to get frequent starts in the corner outfield positions while Upton is out.
