The Los Angeles Dodgers saw several notable players officially become free agents this week, including Trea Turner, who is widely perceived as one of the best options on the open market.
After winning the 2021 National League batting title, Turner hit .298/.343/.466 with 39 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs and 100 RBI in his first full season with the Dodgers. He earned a second career All-Star Game selection and finished second in baseball to Freddie Freeman (199) with 194 hits.
While Turner has been successful in L.A., there have been rumblings he may prefer signing with a team on the East Coast. However, the 29-year-old recently denied that notion and made it clear he would be open to staying with the Dodgers.
If Turner considers other clubs on the West Coast, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi believes the Seattle Mariners could be a fit:
“This is a two-part story. No. 1 is [Tuesday], Jerry Dipoto said they are not going to tender a qualifying offer to their right field mainstay, Mitch Haniger. So as a result, they’ll have a little bit more flexibility to potentially court a top free agent. I don’t believe that free agent is going to be Aaron Judge, so we look to the middle infield. This is where specifically Xander Bogaerts and Trea Turner could become really unique possibilities for the Mariners.”
Although the Mariners are set at shortstop with J.P. Crawford, Morosi thinks they wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to add a premier player like Turner:
“They’ve said J.P. Crawford is their shortstop, but they’ve also said for the right player, they’re open to considering additional alternatives. The right player, again, could be Bogaerts, Turner, perhaps even Carlos Correa.”
After finishing second in the American League West with a 90-72 record and advancing to the postseason for the first time since 2001, the Mariners could look to make a splash this offseason and increase their chances of playing deeper into October next year.
Turner would more than fit the bill, but there are other All-Star caliber shortstops available to sign, such as Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson.
If the Mariners land either player, it would require some roster shuffling as Crawford is already entrenched as the starting shortstop. That could make Turner more appealing as he has experience playing second base.
Trea Turner free agency highlight reel narrated by Jon Hamm
While free agents are still within the five-day window of only being able to negotiate with the team they played for this past season, a Turner highlight reel was produced by his agency, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), and narrated by award-winning actor Jon Hamm.
Turner’s sizzle reel goes over his various accolades, including having three separate 20-game hitting streaks during the 2022 season, being able to hit for power and his electricity on the bases.
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