“The fact that [the Mariners] 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. There's never going to be a better time in the history of that franchise to have added a couple of bats to make a run than this year. And they missed it.

”I thought Alonso was a slam-dunk. How can you not go after him? You kidding me?... 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? There's not going to a better time to go for it. So I don't know what they're doing. I'm very confused. It's a head-scratcher for me.“

-- 2024 Mariners infielder (and LA Dodgers legend) Justin Turner, now with the Cubs, during spring training

100%. Amen. Ditto. The only thing I disagree with is the ”not a better time to go for it" line. There was: 1993-97, say. Back then they didn't need an impact bat but an impact arm. They needed a bullpen that didn't blow up on us. They needed a few missing pieces to go with the Hall of Fame calibre guys they had but couldn't be bothered to go get them. That's why there are no pennants flapping in right field at Mariners Park. But otherwise, god yes, to everything.

I guess there's another part of the statement I disagree with: It's not really a head-scratcher. The Mariners front office has always been this way.