Mariners infielder Justin Turner’s 40th birthday is just around the corner this November, but that’s not stopping the veteran from planning to keep going next year. The pending free agent told reporters, including MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer, after Seattle’s win over the A’s last night that he wants to continue his playing career in 2025:
“100 percent. I still feel good, still feel like I have a lot to contribute.” Turner said, as relayed by Kramer. “And I absolutely love spending time around these guys and the conversations and questions and helping guys.”
Even as he enters his 40s, it’s not necessarily a shock that Turner would plan to continue playing. After all, the veteran remains quite productive on the field. In 138 games split between Toronto and Seattle this year, the veteran has slashed .258/.353/.380 with a wRC+ of 115. While Turner’s 11 home runs and .122 isolated slugging percentage are both the lowest he’s posted in a full season since becoming a regular with the Dodgers back in 2015, his overall production remains exactly in line with what he produced for the Red Sox last year and not far off from the 123 wRC+ he posted in his final year as a Dodger.
Turner has largely been restricted to first base an DH since departing Los Angeles, with just six total appearances at the hot corner this year after logging 17 appearances between second and third base with the Red Sox last year. That dwindling versatility will surely restrict his market this winter, but there should still be plenty of suitors for Turner even in a strictly 1B/DH role. After all, just nine teams got a 115 wRC+ or higher out of first base this year, while 11 clubs matched or exceeded that figure at DH. Only the Blue Jays, Dodgers, Braves, Phillies, and Diamondbacks got better numbers than Turner provided out of both positions this year, and Arizona figures to lose both Christian Walker and Joc Pederson to free agency this winter.
Of course, it’s unlikely that Turner would really garner interest from every club he would be an on-paper upgrade for, but it’s still easy to imagine him as a fit for a number of teams. The Astros could benefit from a right-handed complement to Jon Singleton at first base and someone capable of plugging in at DH on days where Yordan Alvarez plays the outfield, for one example. Meanwhile, the Royals, Nationals, Tigers, and Pirates are all young up-and-coming teams who not only got below average production from either first base or DH this year but could also benefit from adding a well-respected veteran like Turner as a mentor figure for young hitters.
Turner has also signed one-year deals in each of the past two offseasons, which could make him a particularly attractive candidate for a team like the Tigers that has a possible regular in Spencer Torkelson but may not want to rely on the 25-year-old finally taking a long-anticipated step forward after making the playoffs for the first time since 2014 this year. That flexibility could also benefit a team like the Yankees that has a potential heir to first base in Ben Rice at Triple-A but is unlikely to fully commit to a youngster with just 49 big league games under his belt.
A return to Seattle also can’t be ruled out. As Kramer noted last night, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto indicated to reporters yesterday that the club’s payroll is likely to increase this winter. While Dipoto cautioned that much of that increase figures to be accounted for with the increasing arbitration costs of a large class of key players like Randy Arozarena, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, and Cal Raleigh, it’s not hard to imagine the club being able to fit a one-year deal for Turner into their budget if they decide they’d prefer to use him in the first base/DH mix alongside Luke Raley rather than rely on youngster Tyler Locklear.
abcrazy4dodgers
Don’t ever see JT giving Houston a first, second or third thought.
johnsilver
Hits from RH side, wanted to return to Boston, but it was obvious they had no place for him with plans to push yoshida to DH before the ’23 season ended. Turner, this point of his career is pretty much a 3/4 time DH, rest of the time 1b and break glass 2b/3b. Shame, cause he’s the ultimate clubhouse presence and teamate.
Some team will get a great coach when he hangs up his playing spikes.
deweybelongsinthehall
John, if Yoshida gets dealt, Turner would be a good short term option in 25.
JohnnyMute
Houston is everyone’s last resort due to living conditions
bobby clementhay
Excellent point, JohnnyMute! As the home of Antifa and “The Chop” district, along with the trash dumping grounds in parks there and a significantly larger cost of living, the city of Seattle easily earns the nod over Houston as far as quality of life is concerned…
JohnnyMute
Only for the next 36 days. Soon real leadership will return.
JohnnyMute
My Mariners need to sign him so he can continue his hall of fame career and they can claim another one inducted. Beltre, Martinez, Griffey. He’s better than all of them and it was an honor to see him play this year.
mlb fan
“Hall of Fame career”…A good solid bat, teammate and citizen, but hardly a “Hall of Famer”. This watering down of the MLB HOF has got to stop.
Ted
I think you need to adjust your sarcasm detector.
SkenesandSlopes
Hard to tell what is sarcasm from J-mute.
another54pctjoke
lmao he’s a fine player but holy hell “better than all of them” thanks for the laugh
JohnnyMute
All the guys from Deadliest Catch adore him and hate Griffey
warnbeeb
Respectfully, I hardly think Justin Turner makes much sense in Detroit. Not unless he can pitch out of the bullpen too.
JohnnyMute
3 years, 60 million seems reasonable, although he’ll probably have to wait for Soto to sign to see his comp market.
Stevil
Maybe 4/100 or 5/125.
alwaysgo4two
So did Brandon Belt, Evan Longoria, etc. The list is long. if he really wants to play, he shouldn’t over value himself. He’s still bat first and the bat is slipping.
This one belongs to the Reds
Good for him, but as I always say, the teams will tell you when you are done in 99 percent of the cases.
NYCityRiddler
If 2024 is what he calls playing, yea, thanks but no thanks. Ahahaha!
Sean The Trucker
The Mariners need him back for one or two more years. He can retire as a Mariner, and know that he continued to help out the youngsters there in becoming better ball players.
My faith in JeDi signing him though…. Maybe 3/10.
Carl Winslow
I want to see Turner go to Japan and put up Randy Bass level numbers. Show the land of the rising sun the power of Red Thunder.
8======D (Carl Winslow)
Anyone else notice that Brandon Belt’s name was missing from the 1b free agent preview?
RazzleDazzle
I’d love Turner’s bat in the Rangers lineup only If CY didn’t have such a mancrush on Nate Lowe
mlb1225
What’s wrong with Nate Lowe? Seems like a good first baseman.
SadMsFan
I’d like to see the Mariners retain Turner. I really like this guy!
bloomquist4hof
I think there’s a good chance that happens.
Old York
Maybe as a DH. His Defense is atrocious.
Karensjer
That clown needs to retire