SEATTLE, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – As the MLB trade deadline approached, I was curious to see what the Seattle Mariners would do to keep both wins and morale up.

Watching the Mariners this season has been full of ups and downs. Granted, I do think every Mariners season is riddled with hilarious amounts of hope, irritation and sadness as Seattle sports fans always Believe. Coupled with the fact that our newsroom works alongside local northwest sports station 1170 KPUG, emotions are continuously shifting as the building full of Mariners fans loudly complain or praise the previous game’s performance.

Let it be known that no matter what, in any situation, do or die, I am a Los Angeles Dodgers fan. Born and raised just one hour away from the historic Dodger Stadium, I cannot help but always bleed Dodger blue. But ever since I was a child, the Seattle Mariners were my #2. The Kid, The Big Unit… King Felix! How could a baseball fan NOT like the Mariners?

But as the Dodgers pushed themselves away from their rough early 2010s era of losing to – everyone – made worse by cruddy management and ownership, one specific player stood out to me like a knight in shining armor.

Justin Turner, the 5’11” infielder with a notable red beard, tar stain on his jersey and bright smile played a key part in helping the Dodgers become so successful after joining the roster in 2014. Turner helped the Dodgers win the 2020 World Series, even during the awkward pandemic season that some fans continue to dismiss.

Well Seattle, Justin Turner has arrived. With a career batting average of .286 and 16 years of professional baseball experience, Turner brings his skills as not just a consistent hitting machine and infielder, but also as a leader.

At 39 years old, Turner is definitely an older addition to the roster. The average age of a 2024 MLB player is between 26 and 30 years old, as the Mariners’ roster averages an age of 27.6.

But to me, age does not matter for Seattle.

Justin Turner brings that “nice guy” mentality to the field. From my own observations, the Mariners are definitely a fun team to be on. Doubled down with the fact that Seattle sports fans are more than dedicated, I think that Turner is going to add an explosive energy to the roster that will make all Seattle fans more than happy for the remainder of the season.

With a few home games coming up, I am excited to see how Seattle takes to Turner. I’ll be there next Thursday for “Grateful Dead Night” as the Mariners take on the Detroit Tigers. Do I wear my Justin Turner Dodger jersey, or do I lay low to avoid confrontation from a less-than-subdued Seattle fan? I may have to roll the dice…

So, there you have it. A SoCal boy with a red beard has taken the call to become a Seattle Mariner. Just watch out for that big smile and infectious positive energy… it might melt that Seattle Freeze right off of you.