Potential Comeback: Mariners Discuss Bringing Back Former World Series Winner

The Mariners’ deadline acquisition of Justin Turner yielded positive results, and the two parties have already had discussions about a reunion for the 2025 season, general manager Justin Hollander tells Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. “We’ve already had discussions with JT and reiterated our interest that we expressed at the end of the season,” Seattle’s GM said.

Turner, who’ll turn 40 later this month, signed a one-year, $13M deal with the Blue Jays last winter and was flipped to the M’s in a July trade sending minor league outfielder RJ Schreck back to Toronto. He’d shaken off a dismal May slump to post strong numbers in the summer and continued to swing a good bat in the Emerald City down the stretch. Turner finished out the season with a .259/.354/.383 batting line, including a .263/.364/.403 slash (126 wRC+) in 48 games and 190 plate appearances with the Mariners.

That marked the 11th consecutive season in which Turner has provided offense at least 15% better than league average, by measure of wRC+. His power numbers and once strong defensive ratings at the hot corner have both deteriorated, but Turner maintains quality bat-to-ball skills and keen plate discipline. He fanned in only 17.6% of his plate appearances — his second straight season with that exact rate — and walked at a 10.9% clip that represented his highest mark since the 2018 campaign (when he walked in a career-high 11% of his plate appearances).

Turner’s recent teams seem to think he can no longer handle third base on even a part-time basis. The Jays gave him just 32 innings there in 2024, while the Mariners played him for one lone frame. He spent only 57 innings at third with the Red Sox in 2023. At this point, he’s a pure first baseman or designated hitter, but he handled himself well in 326 frames at first base last year, drawing slightly positive marks from both Defensive Runs Saved (2) and Outs Above Average (1). He logged similar marks at first with Boston in ’23.

There’s no telling how Turner would hold up for a full-time slate of innings at first base, but it’s unlikely he’d be asked to do so. In all likelihood, he’d split his time between DH and first base wherever he signs, with far more time at the former than the latter (and perhaps an occasional emergency appearance at third base or second base).

The Mariners don’t have a set option at first base at the moment. They’re reportedly looking to add either a second baseman or third baseman — Josh Rojas and Dylan Moore can platoon at the other spot — as well as a solid bat that can handle some first base. Seattle does have lefty-swinging Luke Raley as an option at first, though he can also mix into the outfield corners on days when any of Randy Arozarena, Julio Rodriguez or Victor Robles need a break. Raley will likely see some time at designated hitter, too. Turner would make a natural platoon partner for Raley at first base, but he still hits righties well enough (.261/.354/.375) to slot in as a DH even when Raley starts in the infield.

Turner would also fit the Mariners’ ongoing desire to reduce their perennially poor team strikeout rate. Seattle’s 26.8% punchout rate was the highest in the majors this past season, as their efforts to curb their contact woes last winter clearly didn’t have the intended effect. He’d also likely fit into what figures to be a relatively tight budget. The Mariners’ payroll is expected to rise next season but not by leaps and bounds.

As it stands, RosterResource projects the Mariners for a $152M payroll — a number that could drop depending on trades and the fate of some potential non-tender candidates in their arb class. That’s already a slight uptick from last year’s $144M payroll. Turner should still command a solid deal but could be in line for a pay cut as he approaches his 40th birthday on the heels of his lowest home run total since becoming a full-time player (the shortened 2020 season excluded).