Mariners get Justin Turner in trade with Blue Jays

Seattle reportedly added a veteran bat to its struggling offense

BOSTON — The most proactive team during this Trade Deadline season was at it once more, just over 24 hours before Tuesday’s 3 p.m. PT cutoff, as the Mariners executed another significant trade to acquire veteran corner infielder and designated hitter Justin Turner from the Blue Jays.

The 39-year-old was removed during the second inning of Toronto’s first game in a doubleheader against Baltimore and is anticipated to join the Mariners on Tuesday at Fenway Park, where the team is engaged in a three-game series.

In return, the Blue Jays will receive outfielder RJ Schreck, a ninth-round draft pick from last year who has recently been promoted to Double-A Arkansas. Additionally, the Blue Jays are including cash considerations to help mitigate the nearly $4.3 million remaining on Turner’s one-year, $13 million contract signed last offseason.

TRADE DETAILS

Mariners acquire: 1B/3B Justin Turner, cash considerations
Blue Jays acquire: OF RJ Schreck (ranked SEA’s No. 29 prospect)

“They’re in a dogfight,” Turner remarked about the Mariners to MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson. “It’s going to be exciting to go out there and contribute, helping them push for a playoff spot. I know the Mariners haven’t clinched the division in quite some time, so I’m hoping to be a vital piece in that pursuit and aim for a deep playoff run.”

Turner is expected to become a regular fixture in a lineup that has desperately sought reinforcements, particularly following the recent acquisition of All-Star outfielder Randy Arozarena from the Rays in the season’s initial blockbuster trade late Thursday night.

This season, Turner has registered a batting line of .257/.351/.373 (.724 OPS) with six home runs, 17 doubles, and 31 RBIs over 348 plate appearances in 90 games. Notably, since June 1, his performance has improved, boasting a slash line of .299/.399/.396 (.794 OPS) and a 134 wRC+ (with 100 being league average).

Significantly, Turner possesses a mere 17.2% strikeout rate, which would represent the lowest among the everyday players on a Mariners team currently struggling with an MLB-worst strikeout rate of 27.7%.

“I just see a professional; this guy’s been around for a long time,” Mariners manager Scott Servais commented. “He’s experienced a lot throughout his career, having been part of numerous winning teams. There’s a certain way that winning teams operate, and I believe he’ll provide valuable insights, not just through his on-field contributions—where I think he still has plenty to offer—but also by mentoring some of our younger players.”

Primarily a third baseman throughout his career, Turner has played just five games at that position this season and 11 games at first base, while serving as Toronto’s designated hitter in 71 games.

“We hope he can play a significant amount of first base for us, and he’ll DH some as well,” Servais explained. “We’ll wait to assess how he feels when he arrives and see how our roster looks.”

Turner brings with him 86 games of postseason experience, which is particularly valuable to a young Mariners roster that largely lacks such experience. Arozarena, meanwhile, has played in 33 playoff games and had one of the most remarkable postseason runs in 2020, when his Rays ultimately fell to Turner’s Dodgers in that year’s World Series. Seattle also bolstered their bullpen by adding reliever Yimi García from the Blue Jays on Friday, a player with experience on five playoff teams.

Despite their considerable talent, the Mariners possess a relatively youthful clubhouse. After parting ways with Eugenio Suárez and Robbie Ray last offseason, they have lacked a robust veteran presence.

“Really, really valuable,” Servais noted. “We’ve seen it in the past; having experienced players can be immensely beneficial. Younger players often look up to those who have navigated both the highs and lows of the game.”

The acquisition of Turner effectively addresses a crucial need for a corner infielder, but president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and general manager Justin Hollander may not be finished making moves.

“We’ve been very active in exploring available pieces that could enhance our roster and gauging interest from other clubs,” Servais said. “Sometimes opportunities present themselves; sometimes they don’t. But we are not hesitant to make moves, which sends a positive message to both our team and our fanbase.”

Earlier on Monday, the Mariners traded Ty France to the Reds, alleviating themselves of the approximately $2.2 million owed to him for 2024 while sending Cincinnati just over half of that amount in addition to acquiring Minor League catcher Andruw Salcedo.

Regarding Schreck, the 24-year-old has performed well this season, batting .250/.392/.444 with 12 home runs in 86 games between High-A Everett and Double-A Arkansas.

RELATED : Dodgers Land Tommy Edman, Michael Kopech in Three-Team Trade

Schreck spent four years at Duke and, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, retained an additional year of eligibility, transferring to Vanderbilt. The Mariners selected him in the ninth round as a cost-effective option, signing him for just $75,000. After a modest debut season, he has demonstrated greater offensive potential than anticipated this year, resulting in a recent promotion.