The business of baseball is a high-stakes game of power plays and backroom deals. Some front offices come out as winners, while others get taken for a ride. And when a seasoned veteran knows how to work the system, well, let’s just say not everyone walks away with a fair deal. Enter the latest front-office drama that has left the Mariners looking like they just struck out swinging.
Justin Turner is a well-known batter who played a major part in the Dodgers winning the World Series in 2020. After his term with the Dodgers, things did not go very well for him. Also got traded to the Mariners mid-season. He was part of the team that fell one game short of making it to the postseason. Then, Turner expected the Mariners to go and spend some money and bolster their team. When that was not the case, Turner didn’t hold back.
He went on a rant about the Mariners and their management not spending any money on the team. He criticized them for failing to invest even after missing the postseason by just one game. He raised the question if the Mariners were even trying. Just then, David Samson arrived to show the world how people can bend things the way they want.
David Samson on his YouTube channel said, “The manipulative nature of this quote by Justin Turner should not be underestimated. He is a smart guy.” He also goes on to explain how Justin Turner is partially right when he says it is not the executive’s fault. The executives and the GM can only work with the money given by the management.
David Samson urged people to believe Turner, but he warned them not to trust Turner’s claim that the team wasn’t trying. He says this is happening because Turner wants people to see things only from his perspective. Turner is pushing this narrative because it benefits him.
So, was Justin Turner exposing the Mariners’ reluctance to spend, or was he just playing the PR game like a seasoned vet? David Samson seems to think it’s the latter—just another case of a player bending the narrative to fit his own agenda. In the end, the Mariners didn’t spend, and Turner didn’t stay, for the off field games.
Mariners Take a Chance on Japan’s 100-MPH Arm Still Seeking Control
Power arms are a gift, but only if they come with a return policy. There are many pitchers who can light up the radar gun but struggle to find the strike zone—or a long-term home. The Mariners have rolled the dice on yet another high-velocity mystery, hoping this one doesn’t turn into just another fastball-fueled illusion.
The Seattle Mariners have bagged Shintaro Fujinami from Japan for a minor league contract. This is not the first stint of Fujinami in the MLB. He was with the Oakland Athletics in 2023 but found it very difficult to find his rhythm. Even though he can pitch the ball at 101 mph, he has a major issue controlling the pitch. The 599 batters he walked in Japan prove this.
Mariners manager Dan Wilson had some words about Shintaro Fujinami. During an interview, he said, “We’ve got some new faces in here, and one that comes with triple digits on the fastball.” With an elite pitching staff, Wilson is confident about Fujinami’s progress.
Wilson’s confidence is admirable, but velocity alone doesn’t win games—command does. The Mariners have taken a flyer on Fujinami, hoping to turn raw speed into precision. If they crack the code, they’ve got a weapon; if not, well, at least the bullpen will get plenty of exercise chasing wild pitches.
The post Ex-Marlins President Exposes Justin Turner’s “Manipulative Nature” After $6.5M Start Sold Out Mariners Front Office. appeared first on EssentiallySports.
