Justin Turner says what Mariners fans are thinking with harsh offseason criticism

As the Seattle Mariners get ready to embark on another season, the dust of the 2024 offseason hasn’t quite settled.

Spring training usually signals a fresh start. A time for renewed hope. And yet, an undeniable tension lingers; a frustration that, while somewhat dulled over time, refuses to fully disappear.

No one anticipated this. After falling just one game short of the postseason in 2024, the expectation was clear. The Mariners needed to make moves, seize the moment, and push forward. But the moment was met with a silent front office. The fanbase, desperate for reinforcements, watched in disbelief as opportunity after opportunity slipped away.

One move seemed like a no-brainer: re-signing veteran first baseman and designated hitter Justin Turner. A proven presence, an upgrade at first base, a leader in the clubhouse, Turner checked all the boxes. And yet, as the weeks dragged on, no deal materialized.

And now, here comes the gut punch.

Turner’s frustration echoes the voice of Mariners fans

Turner, now with the Chicago Cubs after settling for a modest one-year, $6 million deal, spoke candidly to Bob Nightengale of USA Today about the Mariners’ inactivity. His words cut deep, not out of bitterness, but out of the same bewilderment that fans have felt all this time:

“The fact that they missed the playoffs by one game, and didn’t go out and add an impact bat or two when you have the best pitching staff in baseball, just seems absurd to me.”

The veteran doubled down, adding that even if Seattle had re-signed him, his stance wouldn’t have changed: “Honestly, as much as I wanted to be back there, if I was the only piece they brought back in, I would be saying the same thing: What the hell are we doing? Are you trying?

"There’s not going to be a better time to go for it. So, I don’t know what they’re doing. I’m very confused. It’s a head-scratcher for me.”

Turner’s words resonate because they validate what so many have feared: the Mariners are squandering a golden opportunity. That they are content to stand pat while the rest of the league moves forward. That the promise of 2024 could slip away just as quickly as it arrived.

Even within the clubhouse, the sentiment is the same. Newcomer Rowdy Tellez, a minor league signing in Mariners camp as a non-roster invitee, echoed Turner’s thoughts about the pitching staff:

“When it comes to pitching, there’s nobody better. I would take this staff over the Dodgers and anybody else. It’s such an electric staff and you have one of the best catchers in baseball that runs it.”

It’s comforting, in a way, to know that the frustration isn’t just external. The players feel it, too. They understand what’s at stake. They know their own potential. But they're also aware of their limitations. They know that without reinforcements, their margin for error is razor-thin.

The Mariners’ front office is playing a dangerous game. They are betting on internal growth and minor additions to make a major impact on a roster that fell just short last season. It’s a gamble that could pay off, but it’s also one that could lead to an unavoidable reckoning.

If this team falls short again, if another October passes without Mariners baseball, the front office will be out of excuses. The questions will grow louder. And the frustration may finally boil over.

One way or another, 2025 will be a season of answers. Whether the Mariners rise or fall, valuable lessons will be learned. The only question that remains is whether the front office will be prepared for what comes next.