The Mariners’ deadline acquisition of Justin Turner yielded optimistic outcomes, and the 2 events have already had discussions a few reunion for the 2025 season, basic 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 mentioned.
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 hunch to put up robust numbers in the summertime and continued to swing 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 by which Turner has offered offense at the very least 15% higher than league common, by measure of wRC+. His energy numbers and as soon as robust defensive scores on the sizzling nook have each deteriorated, however Turner maintains high quality bat-to-ball expertise and eager plate self-discipline. He fanned in solely 17.6% of his plate appearances — his second straight season with that actual charge — 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 latest 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 Crimson Sox in 2023. At this level, he’s a pure first baseman or designated hitter, however he dealt with himself properly in 326 frames at first base final yr, drawing barely optimistic 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, but it surely’s unlikely he’d be requested to take action. In all chance, he’d break 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 wanting 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 stable bat that may deal with some first base. Seattle does have lefty-swinging Luke Raley as an possibility at first, although he may also 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 accomplice for Raley at first base, however he nonetheless hits righties properly sufficient (.261/.354/.375) to fit in as a DH even when Raley begins within the infield.
Turner would additionally match the Mariners’ ongoing want to cut back their perennially poor workforce strikeout charge. Seattle’s 26.8% punchout charge 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 finances. The Mariners’ payroll is predicted to rise subsequent season however not by leaps and bounds.
Because it stands, RosterResource initiatives the Mariners for a $152MM payroll — a quantity that would 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 stable deal however may very well be in line for a pay lower as he approaches his fortieth birthday on the heels of his lowest residence run whole since turning into a full-time participant (the shortened 2020 season excluded).
