By james art 
The Seattle Mariners will have a lot of decisions to make this offseason.
The Mariners ended the year needing to find answers at first, second and third base. Those needs intensified Friday when the team declined the option on second baseman Jorge Polanco. Third baseman Luis Urias also elected free agency.
Seattle will likely avoid pursuing big-name free agents, according to postseason comments from team owner/chairman John Stanton.
But the Mariners will have options available in the second tier of free agents.
One of those options is a familiar face who played well for Seattle in 2024.
The Mariners traded prospect RJ Schreck to the Toronto Blue Jays for first baseman Justin Turner on July 29. The 16-year veteran and former World Series champion has made a huge impact for the team.
In a combination first base/designated hitter role, Turner hit .264 with five home runs and 24 RBI in 48 games played for Seattle.
Justin Turner hits a game-tying home run in the 8th! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/NpasnXPp5j
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 19, 2024
And according to a recent article by Adam Judd of the Seattle Times, Turner is among the four players who make the most sense for the Mariners’ price range.
Judd had this to say about Turner’s potential return to Seattle:
“Turner proved to be exactly what the Mariners needed after being acquired at the July trade deadline. Turner, who turns 40 on Nov. 23, played on a one-year, $13 million deal this past season, and the Mariners’ decision to bring him back will almost certainly come down to the asking price.”
Turner has a one-year market value of $7.7 million according to Spotrac.
Turner is one of the most respected veterans in the league and received heaps of praise from president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto in a season-ending media scrimmage on Sept. 28.
Turner has made a career of being one of the most reliable hitters in any lineup. His age (40 on Nov. 23) will likely prevent other teams from giving him a multi-year contract, which would help the Mariners in their potential efforts to bring him back.
MARINERS NEAR DEADLINE: The Seattle Mariners will have plenty of roster space to make the necessary moves as an important offseason deadline approaches. CLICK HERE
MARINERS DECLINE OPTION FOR FORMER STAR: The Seattle Mariners opted not to bring back a former All-Star for the 2025 season. CLICK HERE
URIAS CHOOSES FREE AGENCY: The Seattle Mariners have another roster spot open after a seven-year veteran was elected to free agency. CLICK HERE
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