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
Rotowire
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: 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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
