Mariners boxed themselves out from re-signing valuable 2024 trade acquisition

Seattle Mariners v Los Angeles Angels
Seattle Mariners v Los Angeles Angels | Katelyn Mulcahy/GettyImages

The Mariners were one of the more active teams at the trade deadline last year, making two key lineup acquisitions in Randy Arozarena and Justin Turner. Both were important parts of the team's second-half postseason push, and with Turner hitting free agency some believed that it would be wise to bring him back. He himself wanted to return to Seattle to play out what is bound to be the final few years of his career, but the front office's latest signing may have thrown a wrench into those plans.

After signing Donovan Solano to a one-year deal, Seattle now has someone who could be their full-time first baseman. In a recent overview of the Mariners offseason, MLB reporter Daniel Kramer wrote that this makes a reunion with Turner unlikely since the two players create a redundancy. Both are right-handed hitters with limited defensive capabilities. One could theoretically serve as the designated hitter, but, if anything, the Mariners have an even worse logjam at that role with Mitch Garver and Mitch Haniger taking away at-bats.

If the front office is truly intent on bringing Turner's veteran presence back on board, they could move Solano to elsewhere in the infield. He spent most of his time with the Padres at third base and has accumulated more than 3,000 major-league innings at second base. This would give the Mariners the necessary change to bring Turner on board as a first baseman and lineup anchor, who has been remarkably consistent over his 16-year big league career.

Mariners Rumors: Justin Turner reunion unlikely after Donovan Solano deal

Since 2013, he has never had an OPS+ below 100 and he's been excellent at adapting his approach to compensate for growing older. As his ability to generate power has decreased, he has begun to pull the ball more frequently while focusing on making better swing decisions. More importantly, he seems to be one of the few hitters that found more success at T-Mobile Park. While on the Blue Jays, he posted a 107 OPS+ over 349 plate appearances. Over his 190 plate appearances with the Mariners, he logged a 128 OPS+.

So while it's unlikely he returns to the team, it's not totally out of the question. The future of the organization's offseason is more dependent on Alex Bregman's free agency than many may think, but until he and Pete Alonso, the last two marquee free agents, are cleared off the board, negotiations with other players will be slow. There aren't any other teams that have expressed serious interest in signing Turner, but if Seattle doesn't move soon then someone might come to their senses.

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