Robles reinstated from IL, returns to lineup while appealing suspension

SEATTLE -- Victor Robles is officially back. For now.

The Mariners activated their spark plug from the 60-day injured list ahead of Saturday’s game vs. the A’s, inserted him in the lineup vs. left-hander Jeffrey Springs -- batting seventh and playing right field -- and will now await the results of his appeal process with MLB after he was suspended for 10 games on Tuesday for throwing a bat in the direction of an opposing pitcher while on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma last Sunday.

Robles said that his agent -- Rafa Nieves of Republik Sports -- and the MLB Players Association are handling the logistics of the appeal with Major League Baseball.

“I don’t have any knowledge of when it's going to be,” Robles said through an interpreter, while reiterating the apology he issued on Instagram. “I’m just waiting for the appeal, and then go from there.”

Robles went 1-for-4 and made a diving catch in his return, but he was also front-and-center for one of the more consequential moments of a deflating 2-1 loss.

In the 10th inning with runners on first and second base and nobody out, Robles popped a sacrifice bunt attempt sky-high and seamless enough for A’s catcher Shea Langeliers to catch. Initially, it looked like Mariners manager Dan Wilson would pinch-hit Robles in favor of Luke Raley -- a plus bunter himself -- before Robles re-emerged from the dugout.

“That's the play right there in that situation,” Wilson said. “And we just weren't able to execute it.”

Seattle then loaded the bases -- gifted a second opportunity after a bobble on what would have been a game-ending double play by shortstop Jacob Wilson was followed by a seven-pitch walk from rookie Cole Young -- but Randy Arozarena hit into a forceout that ended the game.

And the Mariners, stymied again by a left-handed starter (Jeffrey Springs), finished with only a solo homer from Arozarena in the sixth and two additional singles in the box score.

In a corresponding move for Robles, utility man Dylan Moore -- the club’s longest-tenured player, dating back to Opening Day in 2019 -- was designated for assignment in the midst of a career-worst stretch dating back to May 28. The move was necessary to account for both the Mariners’ active and 40-man rosters.

Whenever Robles’ appeal process is over, he must begin serving his suspension -- which would’ve been required at the MLB level despite the incident taking place in the Minors -- and the Mariners will be forced to play a man down. But the decision to bring him back on Saturday was also strategic, as Seattle has struggled mightily vs. left-handed pitching, and before Friday’s win had lost seven of its past eight games.

“First and foremost, he's healthy and ready to go,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “And I think it's just wanting to be able to get him back here and back in right field as soon as we could.”

Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said after the sanction was levied that Robles, who hadn’t played in a game since suffering a left shoulder dislocation on April 6 in San Francisco, had been tentatively targeted for a return this homestand, likely next week.

That was the club’s thinking before the incident took place, in which Robles heaved his bat towards right-hander Joey Estes, who’s currently on the A’s active roster, and was subsequently ejected.

Dipoto added on Tuesday the club was considering whether to account for roster expansions on Sept. 1 -- when clubs can add two additional players but no more than one pitcher -- but Saturday’s move underscored that the club views Robles’ return, even if it is short-lived for now, with urgency.

For statistical context, the Mariners’ .656 OPS since the All-Star break vs. lefties is the eighth-worst mark in MLB, and Springs entered Friday with a 2.27 ERA in 13 career outings (five starts) vs. Seattle. The righty-hitting Robles had a .648 OPS last year vs. lefties. On the rehab assignment, Robles went 9-for-29 (.310) with a homer, three doubles and an .852 OPS.

“Off the white lines, I try to take care of myself, but once I step between the white lines, I’m not going to change the way I play,” Robles said, in the context of how he suffered the injury, when making a diving catch into the foul territory netting at Oracle Park.

Had the Mariners waited until Sept. 1, they could’ve conceivably retained Moore and played one man short with expanded rosters. But Robles then wouldn’t have been eligible to return from his suspension until Sept. 12 at the earliest if the 10-game sanction was upheld. The suspension is currently in abeyance, meaning that he can still play until a hearing and subsequent ruling is made.

As for Moore -- who’s in the final season of a three-year, $8.875 million contract -- he was in a 3-for-67 stretch dating back to May 28 with 38 strikeouts, while seeing his playing time dwindle mightily. That said, the Mariners haven’t used their bench as regularly since the Trade Deadline, when they acquired sluggers Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez, as Wilson has mostly deployed a consistent lineup each night.

Yet despite his struggles, the Mariners had held onto Moore because the 2024 Gold Glove Award winner is their most versatile player and has played every position but left field and catcher this season.

Moore, 33, will be placed on waivers and could be claimed by any team, though that club would then be on the hook for the remainder of his $3.9 million salary this season. If he clears waivers, he can -- and likely would -- decline an outright assignment to the Minors and become a free agent, due to his six years of MLB service time. At that point, any team could sign him to the prorated MLB minimum, while the Mariners would be on the hook for the difference of his remaining salary.