Mariners continue trade deadline onslaught, acquire former All-Star from Blue Jays

The 2024 Trade Deadline for the Mariners had one focus: Add offense. After the addition of Randy Arozarena and the outburst from the Mariners offense, Jerry Dipoto and Justin Hollander needed a follow-up move. This offense still needs a couple of pieces and with a big hole at DH and the corner infield spots, the Mariners remained extremely active on that front.

With trades flying across the ticker left and right, Mariners fans kept refreshing their feed in hopes of another blockbuster move (still waiting on the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. trade to come through) to really make this offense one that teams should be scared of.

The Mariners acquired a former All-Star to help their lineup

I gasped so loud seeing the Mariners have acquired Toronto Blue Jays...and then it cut off. I frantically opened it to see that it was in fact, Justin Turner. I will say that I am disappointed that I didn't see Vlad's name on my screen, but Mariners fans, myself included, should be extremely pleased that Dipoto was able to acquire Justin Turner from Toronto. While this seems like it is sort of a pivot off Vlad and that might be more of a long shot, Turner is a very solid bat.

Turner is a 39-year-old veteran with tons of playoff experience during his tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The right-handed slugger is due $13 million this year before entering free agency (is John Stanton finally allowing some payroll flexibility?). Turner also can play a solid first base as well as man the hot corner if they want to give Rojas a day off, or if Locklear heats up (or maybe another first base move is incoming).

This year's numbers might worry you as Turner is hitting .254/.349/.371 with just six home runs, but he is a professional hitter in the truest sense. A 17.2% strikeout rate and 11.2% walk rate will add a lot more certainty to a lineup that desperately needs it. His 109 wRC+ would actually tie Cal Raleigh for the highest on the ball club. While Turner doesn't hit the ball particularly hard and the home run numbers are down, (which makes sense given his age-39) his launch angle is elite and he is a doubles machine (67 over 2022 and 2023) which should play very well in Seattle. Not to mention, since June 1st, Turner is slashing .301/.401/.399, showing that he is really heating up, something that the Mariners are in dire need of.

In exchange, the Mariners sent the Blue Jays, RJ Schreck, a former ninth round pick from the 2023 draft. He was just called up to Double-A Arkansas after a really good stretch in Everett, slashing .261/.401/.464 with 12 home runs. Schreck is a solid prospect, but as a 23-year-old just making it to Double-A, this is an easy trade to make for Seattle.

Overall, this probably sends the signal that the Mariners aren't in the Vlad Jr. or Yandy Diaz sweepstakes, but as a consolation prize, it doesn't get much better. Turner can rotate at both corner spots, provide a lot of extra base hits, while being one of the more consistent hitters in the game.