The Mariners have added another bat to their depth chart, claiming first baseman Michael Toglia off waivers from the Reds, according to a team announcement.
Cincinnati had not previously been reported to have placed Toglia on waivers. He had been on the 60-day injured list since early September after dislocating his shoulder.
Toglia landed with the Reds on a minor league deal over the winter after Colorado removed him from the 40-man roster. He put together a strong year in Louisville, hitting .273/.373/.547 with 22 home runs in 402 plate appearances before getting called up to the big league roster in mid-August.
His time on the active roster was brief. Toglia played in 10 games, logged 28 plate appearances and then suffered the shoulder injury that ended his season and required surgery.
The 6’5″, 225-pound switch-hitter came into pro ball as a former first-round pick and a respected prospect in the Rockies system, but contact has always been the issue. He did reach a career-high 458 plate appearances in 2024 and launched 25 homers, yet his 32.1% strikeout rate dragged down the overall production and left him with a .218/.311/.456 line, worth a 99 wRC+.
The next season was even rougher: Toglia hit .190/.258/.353 in 337 plate appearances, with his strikeout rate climbing past 39%. That stretch prompted Colorado to designate him for assignment and later non-tender him last November.
Because Toglia is out of minor league options, Seattle would have to either carry him on the roster through the winter and break camp with him or designate him for assignment again. For now, he gives the Mariners another first base, corner outfield and designated hitter option, though there’s a good chance he comes off the 40-man roster at some point during the offseason.
Players on the injured list cannot be placed on outright waivers, so the Mariners likely claimed Toglia off release waivers. Seattle’s press release said the 40-man roster “remains” at 39 players, which suggests Toglia will be stashed on the club’s own 60-day IL until roster moves are needed to open spots again five days after the conclusion of the World Series.
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