Mariners trade Vogelbach to Blue Jays for cash

The Toronto Blue Jays acquired first baseman/designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach from the Seattle Mariners for cash considerations, the team announced Sunday.

Seattle designated Vogelbach for assignment on Wednesday after a slow start to the season. The 27-year-old slashed .094/.250/.226 with two homers, four RBIs, 11 walks, and 13 strikeouts across 18 games.

In Toronto, the 2019 All-Star will compete for playing time at the first base and DH slots with fellow sluggers Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Rowdy Tellez. Vogelbach could also serve as a pinch hitter on a Blue Jays bench that's thin due to injuries.

A former top prospect, Vogelbach posted a .780 OPS with 30 homers and 76 RBIs last year for the Mariners. But he produced a .626 OPS with just nine homers in the second half, beginning a long slump that continued into this season.

While he possesses tremendous power, Vogelbach's robust frame hampers him, making him a DH outside of occasional appearances at first base. He also struggles against left-handed pitching, leading to extreme platoon splits.

Vogelbach's career splits

Vogelbach comes with several years of team control, as he's not eligible for arbitration until 2022 and won't reach free agency until 2025. However, he doesn't have any minor-league options remaining.

Vogelbach owns a career .196/.326/.397 slash line (98 OPS+) with 36 homers, 95 RBIs, and 203 strikeouts across parts of five seasons, all with Seattle.