Dodgers' fan favorite Justin Turner blasts 2024 team for lack of free agency moves

Very few organizations can spend like the Dodgers, but there were some teams this offseason that didn't even seem to try. The Cardinals were the only team that didn't spend a single dollar, stymied by their fruitless attempts to trade Nolan Arenado, but they declared a rebuild and don't look like they're going to be competitive in 2025.

The same can't be said for some of the six other teams that spent less than $15 million in the offseason. The Marlins and Rockies are a lost cause, but the Mariners, Twins, Reds, and Brewers aren't quite. All of these teams were outspent by the likes of the Pirates and the White Sox, even though the Mariners could threaten the Astros to win the AL West this year, and the Twins', Reds', and Brewers' AL and NL Centrals are wide open.

The Mariners especially should've capitalized on the Astros' failings this offseason. Even though they signed Christian Walker, they gave up Kyle Tucker and Ryan Pressly, which was a factor in them not being able to woo Arenado. After the Astros' early exit from the postseason — at the hands of the Tigers, no less — the Mariners should've taken that as a sign to go ham on the free agent and trade markets to try to fight their way to the top.

Instead, they spent just $11.25 million on Donovan Solano and Jorge Polanco. Former Dodger, 2024 Mariner, and current Cub Justin Turner took exception. He said on Wednesday, "The fact that they missed the playoffs by one game, and didn’t go out and add an impact bat or two when you have the best pitching staff in baseball just seems absurd to me."

Former Dodgers fan favorite Justin Turner calls out Mariners for their lackluster offseason

Turner said he was more than receptive to returning to Seattle in free agency, but the Mariners never made an offer he was willing to sign (or showed him they intended to contend) after reaching out early in the offseason. Instead, he went to the Cubs on a one-year, $6 million deal. "Honestly, as much as I wanted to be back there, if I was the only piece they brought back in, I would be saying the same thing: What the hell are we doing? Are you trying?" Turner stated.

The Mariners do have one of the best rotations in baseball, loaded with young, homegrown players who could easily threaten for the AL Cy Young next year, but the offense put together the second-lowest combined batting average and eight-lowest OPS in baseball last year. Polanco was re-signed, which makes Solano their only real addition for the new season.

Either the Mariners are completely averse to spending money or are weirdly satisfied with the offense they already have (or both), but Turner is right; they haven't done anything that makes them look like they'll finally be able to topple the Astros in 2025.