'True pro' Turner vows to play in '25, interested in Seattle return

SEATTLE -- Shortly after he chopped a game-winning fielder’s choice with the bases loaded that lifted the Mariners to a 7-6 walk-off win over the A's on Saturday night at T-Mobile Park, Justin Turner -- who turns 40 in November -- said that he “100 percent” intends to play again in 2025.

"I still feel good, still feel like I have a lot to contribute,” Turner said. “And I absolutely love spending time around these guys and the conversations and questions and helping guys try to figure things out."

He also made it clear that returning to the Mariners -- whom he joined at the Trade Deadline -- would be one of his top choices among among interested suitors, as Turner will become a free agent at season’s end.

"I've talked to a lot of guys, and I've enjoyed my time here -- I would love to be back and be a Mariner,” Turner said. “And I guess when that time comes, we'll see what happens. ... This is a fantastic clubhouse. And like I said, it's a core group of guys that is going to be together for some time, and I think they have a chance to do some special things.”

Turner is already MLB’s oldest position player who’s been on an active roster all season, but his production has remained steady. He’s hit .261 with five homers, six doubles, 22 RBIs, 20 walks and 34 strikeouts in 187 plate appearances, good for a .753 OPS that ranks fourth best on the team. And he’s obviously been a huge boon of veteran experience within one of the sport’s younger clubhouses.

"Not even just his coaching, I mean, the guy's just one of the better hitters on our team,” said Cal Raleigh, who crushed his 33rd homer earlier on Saturday. “I kind of joke about it, just because he is an older guy, but he's also producing at a high level and coming up with huge hits."

Before Turner’s arrival via the Deadline deal with Toronto, the Mariners had mostly lacked a productive position-player veteran presence, which players like Raleigh have pointed to the extreme value of. Luke Raley, who also homered on Saturday, against a 99.7 mph fastball from All-Star reliever Mason Miller, echoed that sentiment.

"I truly believe if JT was here for the full season, we would be in the playoffs,” Raley said. “I think that's how important he is. And how much he's worked with people's mindsets more than anything. He's just a true pro. He's the guy that you want in your clubhouse, and he is a true leader.”

Jerry Dipoto, in a wide-ranging and impromptu media session on Saturday, outlined that acquiring a veteran position player would be a priority this offseason, too.

"I've really appreciated getting to see what the real veteran leadership does for this team,” the Mariners’ president of baseball operations said, “and we've seen it now on two occasions [Carlos Santana in 2022], and it's been really pronounced in how much it's helped our players.”

Turner is earning $19.7 million this year -- $13 million via a one-year contract he signed with the Blue Jays and a $6.7 million buyout from his previous contract with the Red Sox.

He’ll clearly have a market this winter, and now it’s official that he intends to explore it.