The Mariners’ deadline acquisition of Justin Turner yielded constructive outcomes, and the 2 events have already had discussions a couple of reunion for the 2025 season, common supervisor Justin Hollander tells Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. “We’ve already had discussions with JT and reiterated our curiosity that we expressed on the finish of the season,” Seattle’s GM stated.
Turner, who’ll flip 40 later this month, signed a one-year, $13MM cope with the Blue Jays final winter and was flipped to the M’s in a July commerce sending minor league outfielder RJ Schreck again to Toronto. He’d shaken off a dismal Could stoop to put up robust numbers in the summertime and continued to swing a superb bat within the Emerald Metropolis down the stretch. Turner completed out the season with a .259/.354/.383 batting line, together with a .263/.364/.403 slash (126 wRC+) in 48 video games and 190 plate appearances with the Mariners.
That marked the eleventh consecutive season wherein Turner has offered offense not less than 15% higher than league common, by measure of wRC+. His energy numbers and as soon as robust defensive rankings on the sizzling nook have each deteriorated, however Turner maintains high quality bat-to-ball abilities and eager plate self-discipline. He fanned in solely 17.6% of his plate appearances — his second straight season with that actual fee — and walked at a ten.9% clip that represented his highest mark for the reason that 2018 marketing campaign (when he walked in a career-high 11% of his plate appearances).
Turner’s current groups appear to suppose he can not deal with third base on even a part-time foundation. The Jays gave him simply 32 innings there in 2024, whereas the Mariners performed him for one lone body. He spent solely 57 innings at third with the Pink Sox in 2023. At this level, he’s a pure first baseman or designated hitter, however he dealt with himself effectively in 326 frames at first base final yr, drawing barely constructive marks from each Defensive Runs Saved (2) and Outs Above Common (1). He logged comparable marks at first with Boston in ’23.
There’s no telling how Turner would maintain up for a full-time slate of innings at first base, nevertheless it’s unlikely he’d be requested to take action. In all chance, he’d cut up his time between DH and first base wherever he indicators, with way more time on the former than the latter (and maybe an occasional emergency look at third base or second base).
The Mariners don’t have a set possibility at first base for the time being. They’re reportedly trying so as to add both a second baseman or third baseman — Josh Rojas and Dylan Moore can platoon on the different spot — in addition to a strong bat that may deal with some first base. Seattle does have lefty-swinging Luke Raley as an possibility at first, although he may combine into the outfield corners on days when any of Randy Arozarena, Julio Rodriguez or Victor Robles want a break. Raley will possible see a while at designated hitter, too. Turner would make a pure platoon companion for Raley at first base, however he nonetheless hits righties effectively sufficient (.261/.354/.375) to fit in as a DH even when Raley begins within the infield.
Turner would additionally match the Mariners’ ongoing need to cut back their perennially poor staff strikeout fee. Seattle’s 26.8% punchout fee was the best within the majors this previous season, as their efforts to curb their contact woes final winter clearly didn’t have the supposed impact. He’d additionally possible match into what figures to be a comparatively tight price range. The Mariners’ payroll is predicted to rise subsequent season however not by leaps and bounds.
Because it stands, RosterResource tasks the Mariners for a $152MM payroll — a quantity that might drop relying on trades and the destiny of some potential non-tender candidates of their arb class. That’s already a slight uptick from final yr’s $144MM payroll. Turner ought to nonetheless command a strong deal however may very well be in line for a pay lower as he approaches his fortieth birthday on the heels of his lowest house run complete since turning into a full-time participant (the shortened 2020 season excluded).
