Former Dodgers All-Star Justin Turner Traded to AL West Squad
Former Los Angeles Dodgers fan favorite Justin Turner is heading back West. Turner is being traded from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Seattle Mariners, per multiple reports. Turner was just removed by the Blue Jays in the second inning of their game against the Baltimore Orioles. Now he’s joining a contender.
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Turner joins another former Dodger in right-handed pitcher Yimi Garcia that was dealt to the Mariners over the weekend. Heading back to the Blue Jays is minor league outfielder RJ Schreck.
Turner, 39, is in his 16th year in Major League Baseball, and continues to be a productive hitter. In 89 games with Toronto this season entering Monday, Turner slashed .254/.349/.371 with six home runs, 31 runs batted in, and an OPS of .720. His OPS+ of 106 was six percent above league average.
Turner is now joining his third American League team in the last two seasons. After his Dodger career ended in 2022, Turner spent one year with the Boston Red Sox and a little more than half a season with the Blue Jays. Now, he’s finishing the 2024 season with the Mariners as they continue to revamp their roster before the trade deadline.
Turner wasn’t going to be an option for the Dodgers as he’s primarily a designated hitter at this stage in his career. His days of being a star third baseman are behind him, as Turner has appeared in 71 games at the DH spot this season to just 11 at first base and five at third base.
The Mariners desperately needed offense this deadline, and have now added Turner and All-Star outfielder Randy Arozarena. As for the Blue Jays, they’ll likely continue to sell as the deadline is a little more than 24 hours away.
Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
