Mariners bolster lineup, add veteran infielder in trade with Toronto Blue Jays

The Seattle Mariners swung another trade to bolster their lineup in the midst of a postseason push, acquiring infielder Justin Turner from the Toronto Blue Jays.

Turner, 39, is a 16-year MLB veteran with extensive playoff experience and was a World Series champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020. The smooth-swinging righty is a career .286/.363/.460 hitter across 1,628 major league games, with 13 career postseason home runs in 19 playoff series.

Made official by the Mariners on Monday, Turner joins a struggling offense on a promising upswing, fresh off a 22-run stampede across a three-game sweep at the Chicago White Sox.

“Justin has been one of the most productive corner infield bats in the league for over a decade,” Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said. “With his track record at the plate and extensive experience in the postseason, he is a valuable addition to both our lineup and clubhouse.”

He’s the third Major League acquisition amid a busy deadline for the Mariners, joining Tampa Bay’s Randy Arozarena (OF) and Toronto reliever Yimi Garcia as new faces on the Seattle roster.

“(Justin’s) got a great track record in the league,” manager Scott Servais said. “He’s got a proven bat. A guy who also brings a lot of experience, certainly presence, leadership, all of those things you’re looking to add here (with) a couple big months of baseball ahead of us.

“I’m excited about it.”

Reinforcing a slumping lineup — and bolstering their injured bullpen — were obvious needs for the Seattle front office entering trade season. Seattle addressed both deficiencies, now within 24 hours of the Tuesday deadline (3 p.m. PT), but there’s no indication the Mariners are finished adding.

Monday’s full deal: Turner and cash considerations are sent to the Mariners for minor league outfielder RJ Schreck.

Turner was pulled from Toronto’s game at Baltimore on Monday afternoon, the first of a double-header, after going 1-for-1 with a two-out single. He’s slashing .254/.349/.371 in 89 games this season, though the numbers increase to .301/.401/.399 since June 1.

He’s also a rental, signing a one-year, $13 million contract with Toronto last offseason.

Turner’s voice and clubhouse leadership may very well prove as valuable as his bat, now on his sixth major league team.

“Someone like (Justin), you need to add,” Servais said. “It’s a mixture, a balance of veterans and young guys with energy.

“I’ve often said... coaches and managers talk with players, you try to lead them. But players are always going to listen to players more than they listen to others. Certainly, guys that have a track record like Justin Turner has.”

Schreck, 24, was selected by Seattle in the ninth round of the 2023 MLB Draft and appeared in 86 games between High-A Everett and Double-A Arkansas this season, posting an .836 OPS.

“We’re just trying to get better any way we can,” Servais said. “In talking to Jerry (Dipoto) and Justin (Hollander), they’ve been working their tails off.

“We have not been afraid. I think that’s sending the right message to our team and our fan base.”

TY FRANCE TRADED TO REDS

The six-day saga of Ty France transactions is, officially, over: The Mariners dealt him along with cash considerations to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for minor league catcher Andruw Salcedo.

First placed on outright waivers, France was designated for assignment on July 23. The Mariners then had seven days to trade or release him before the Reds emerged as a potential suitor.

France, 30, made his fair share of Mariner memories, including the famed “South of France Night” with his own cheering section of fans sporting berets and baguettes. He was an All-Star in 2022, headlined by 20 home runs and 83 RBI that helped propel Seattle to the postseason for the first time since 2001.

Injuries in recent months — particularly, a right heel fracture in early June — derailed his production and season. Upon return from a stint on the injured list June 18, France slashed just .157/.272/.225 with one home run, nine walks, and 27 strikeouts in 27 games.

“I was on (an) up-climb at the time, obviously got hit in the foot, and just couldn’t find it again,” France told reporters last week.

Cincinnati will cover $1 million of the $2.3 million remaining of France’s season salary, a cost-saving move for the Mariners while adding depth in Class-A.

Salcedo, 21, has impressed in very limited action in 2024, posting a .350 on-base percentage across seven games (20 PA) for Class-A Daytona.

France’s 95 hit by pitches in a Mariners uniform are the most in franchise history, more than Hall-of-Fame DH Edgar Martinez (89).

“It’s been a rough year and a half,” France said. “Obviously, if I could go back and fix it, I would. Just going to continue to work to get back to the player I was.”