The offseason has just started, yet one American League West team is already working to extend a midseason rental player into a long-term commitment.
When the Seattle Mariners traded for Justin Turner from the Toronto Blue Jays on July 29, they were nearly tied with the Houston Astros for first place in the AL West.
Justin Turner, a fan favorite from his years with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2013-22) and Boston Red Sox (2023), showed he could still contribute at the plate during his 48 games with the Seattle Mariners. He posted a .264/.363/.403 line with five home runs and 24 RBIs, achieving a solid 128 OPS+.
However, the Mariners as a team couldn’t raise their performance in the season’s final stretch. After Turner joined, Seattle went 29-26, ending with an 85-77 record—just one game behind the Kansas City Royals for the last American League Wild Card spot.
As the Mariners prepare for 2024, they’re eager to keep the momentum going with Justin Turner. General Manager Justin Hollander shared with MLB.com that they’ve already begun talks about bringing him back.
“We’ve already had discussions with JT and reiterated the interest we expressed at the end of the season,” Hollander told MLB.com reporters Sonja Chen and Daniel Kramer. “He’s a player who connected well with many in our clubhouse. We’d love to have JT back.”
