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With just over four weeks to go until spring training begins, the Seattle Mariners stll have multiple needs on their roster.
The team needs to find an answer at third base, and an answer at second base, and they could also use a right-handed hitting answer at first base.
On the latter front, the following question has to be asked: Why have the M's not signed Justin Turner yet?
In 48 games with the Mariners last season after the midseason trade from the Jays, he hit .264 with five homers, 24 RBI and a .363 on-base percentage. He helped the M's get to within one game of the playoffs and provides everything that the Mariners are supposedly looking for: That right-handed option in the lineup, the ability to play first base and designated hitter and solid veteran leadership.
To boot, he won't be expensive and will fall within the team's limited offseason budget.
Furthermore, Turner appears without a chair in the game of musical chairs at first base this offseason. Josh Naylor, Christian Walker, Carlos Santana, Jake Burger and Nathaniel Lowe have all changed teams. Nearly all the teams that need a first baseman seemingly have one, with the New York Mets as the exception.
They seem destined to bring back Pete Alonso in free agency, so they don't necessarily need Turner either. The Minnesota Twins could be an option after losing Santana, but we haven't heard Turner connected there all offseason.
This winter has been a disaster for Seattle, signing Turner could at least help salvage some of it.
Why is it not done yet?
More must-reads:
- Biggest impact of Josh Naylor trade may still be to come
- Four teams that should be buyers at the trade deadline
- The 'Multiple 100-RBI MLB seasons' quiz
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Mariners get needed power bat from Diamondbacks
The Seattle Mariners were known to be shopping for an impact bat for their lineup. They attempted to fill that void on Thursday. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported that the Mariners acquired first baseman Josh Naylor from the Diamondbacks. Pitching prospects Brandyn Garcia and Ashton Izzi are heading to Arizona in return. Naylor entered Thursday having produced a .292/.360/.447 batting line in 394 plate appearances for the Diamondbacks, hitting 11 homers and 19 doubles while stealing a career high 11 bases. Mariners first basemen had ranked 18th in the majors with a .711 OPS entering Thursday, leading to primary first baseman Rowdy Tellez being released on June 26. While Naylor may not be the impact bat that the Mariners had been shopping for, he does have plenty of power. He hit 31 homers as part of an All-Star season for Cleveland in 2024 and should provide more power for a Marines lineup that could use a boost. In exchange, the Diamondbacks receive a pair of intriguing prospects. Garcia, the Mariners 13th-ranked prospect before the trade, is viewed as a late bloomer who has improved drastically since being drafted in the 11th round of the 2023 MLB Draft. The lefty has an intriguing four-pitch mix headlined by a mid-90s sinker and a cutter that generates plenty of swings and misses. Izzi, the Mariners 16th-ranked prospect, was a fourth-round selection in the 2022 MLB Draft. While there are questions about his command, Izzi has an above average fastball that has topped out at 97 mph. His sweeper has the ability to miss bats, and while Izzi does have the vestiges of a changeup, that pitch may not matter if he transitions to the bullpen where his fastball and sweeper could play up. This may not be the Mariners' only trade with the Diamondbacks ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. Seattle is known to be interested in third baseman Eugenio Suarez, who would add another needed power bat to their lineup. Naylor provides a needed upgrade, but he may only be the beginning of a busy week for both teams.
Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan leaves behind a complicated legacy
On Thursday, wrestling icon Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea died at the age of 71. "WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away," the company said in a statement. "One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s... WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans." Hogan was the first true superstar to emerge in the wrestling industry, capturing a casual audience worldwide and bringing new eyes to the sport. He was an unbelievable draw, both as a baby face and as a heel. From his time as an All-American hero to leading the New World Order and teaming with Randy Savage as part of the "Mega Powers," he has been a staple of the scene for decades. Who can forget his WrestleMania III moment, where he defied the laws of physics to body-slam a 520-pound Andre the Giant? Or, more recently, his match with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson at WrestleMania 18? His last appearance on WWE RAW on Jan. 6 saw him booed throughout, highlighting the rocky legacy Hogan leaves behind. Hogan's universal popularity has plummeted in recent years, primarily due to a racism scandal that led to his removal from the Wrestling Hall of Fame, only to be reinstated in 2018. Nevertheless, the damage had been done. Hogan's outdated and unwelcome outlook on specific aspects of life derailed the final stanza of a legendary career. Still, there's no denying that without Hogan, the wrestling we know and love today wouldn't exist. There wouldn't be WWE on the world's largest streaming platform, or All Elite Wrestling, which is developing into one of the most successful challenger brands. Instead, there would be smaller, more localized promotions, all competing for a sliver of television time. Hogan popularized the sport by bridging the gap between the wrestling ring and Hollywood. During his time in the spotlight, Hogan appeared in movies such as "Rocky III," "No Holds Barred" and "Suburban Commando," all of which helped bring his larger-than-life persona to a new audience. It's no surprise, then, that The Rock, John Cena and Dave Bautista have all made similar jumps in recent years. Hogan leaves behind an everlasting imprint on the wrestling world. Unfortunately, it comes with multiple asterisks; however, that doesn't change what he achieved as the first global wrestling star.
Packers Could Replace Jaire Alexander With Player You Wouldn’t Believe
The Green Bay Packers released star cornerback Jaire Alexander earlier this offseason, which frustrated the fan base because they did so without an obvious solution. Packers fans have been clamoring for the team to sign veteran and former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore, but Green Bay does not appear all that interested in doing so. But you know who could represent a possible replacement for Alexander? Wide receiver Bo Melton. Yes, you read that right: wide receiver Bo Melton. Melton has started Packers training camp as a cornerback, which could ultimately lead to the 26-year-old assuming a major role in Green Bay’s secondary. Why the position switch? Well, Melton was struggling finding playing time in the Packers’ receiving corps as it was. Now, Green Bay added Matthew Golden and Savon Williams into the equation, so the chances of him actually getting on the field as a receiver in 2025 are slim to none. Melton logged just eight catches for 91 yards last season, and in 2024, he finished with 16 receptions for 218 yards and a touchdown. The funny thing is, he actually has shown promise in very limited action, but there is simply no room for him. The Rutgers product seems to want to stay in Green Bay, hence his decision to flip to the other side of the ball. He knows he has no chance to play as a wide out. Why not utilize his athleticism as a cornerback? Of course, this does not necessarily mean that Melton will serve as Alexander’s primary replacement. In fact, it would be pretty concerning if the Packers choose not to bring in another corner between now and the start of the regular season. But hey, maybe Melton will be so impressive in camp that Green Bay will actually give him a look.
New York Knicks Predicted to Trade Karl-Anthony Towns For Dallas Mavericks Star
The New York Knicks have had a busy summer thus far as they have made multiple additions to their roster to try and improve off their run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season. Of course, the Knicks also made a head coaching change to begin the summer as they fried Tom Thibodeau and replaced him with two-time Coach of the Year winner Mike Brown. During free agency, New York added Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele to upgrade their bench at a cheap cost, which is an area that they struggled with last season. The Knicks do have one more roster spot open which they will likely use to add another veteran player to their bench. While the Knicks have focused on upgrading their depth this summer, Sports Illustrated’s Jackson Caudell recently created a mock trade that would see New York send Karl-Anthony Towns to the Dallas Mavericks for one of their star players along with depth. In the trade, the Knicks would acquire Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington from the Mavericks while Dallas would land Towns and Vit Krejci. The Atlanta Hawks are the third team involved in the trade and they would receive Caleb Martin and two second-round picks from the Mavericks. For the Knicks, it would be a tough decision to move on from Towns but they would be able to fill some glaring holes in their roster with their return in this deal. Thompson would give them a much-needed three-point sharpshooter in their starting lineup while both Washington and Gafford would be major additions to their frontcourt, especially on the defensive end. Despite this, the Mavericks may not want to move on from three of their key players to acquire Towns, who struggled in the playoffs last season, primarily on defense. While that may be the case, making this trade would be a massive upgrade to the Knicks’ lineup and depth that could make them the team to beat in the Eastern Conference next season.
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