Update 07/29/2024 5:15pm : The Toronto Blue Jays have officially announced that they’ve traded Justin Turner and cash considerations to the Seattle Mariners for outfield prospect RJ Schreck.
The Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners have made a slue of trades over the past few years, and that is the case today, as first baseman/designated hitter Justin Turner is heading to Seattle, according to Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic.
Turner was playing in Baltimore for the Blue Jays today, as they have a doubleheader against the Orioles. After batting in the top of the 1st, Toronto replaced Turner in the game shortly after with Addison Barger, as news of the trade broke.
The 39-year-old is hitting .257, with a .351 OBP and a .724 OPS. Turner has been hot at the plate, batting .583 over his last seven games. Seattle traded their former first baseman, Ty France, to the Cincinnati Reds earlier today after France was designated for assignment last week.
Going back to Toronto, is minor-league outfielder RJ Schreck ranked 29th in the Mariners system, according to MLB Pipeline. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi and Ben Nicholson-Smith first reported the minor league prospect as the return for Toronto.
Schreck, 24, was drafted in the 9th round by Seattle in the 2023 Major League Baseball draft. In 2024, Schreck is hitting .250, with a .836 OPS between High-A and Double-A this year. It’s worth noting Schreck was recently promoted to Double-A, only playing eight games so far, where he’s struggled to hit (batting .143), but a small sample size isn’t enough to determine whether he will succeed or not.
Scouts have said Schreck’s potential is a fourth outfield role, with above-average plate discipline and some power.
Toronto is certainly not done making any moves, as SP Yusei Kikuchi, reliever Chad Green, and utility player Isiah Kiner-Falefa could all be moved by tomorrow’s deadline.
