Miami Marlins Make Offer To Former World Series Champion Infielder

The Miami Marlins are never one to make big splashy offers on the free agent market, but they do tend to dabble on the outskirts, looking for value adds. According to Marlins Insider Craig Mish, the team has made an offer to 38-year-old free agent third baseman Justin Turner. 

Mish says the Marlins' offer is thought to be "competitive" with other interested teams' offers. The incumbent Los Angeles Dodgers as well as the Arizona Diamondbacks are also said to be in on the veteran. Iconic Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson certainly still considers the Dodgers to be the frontrunners, if we can take anything from his tweet this weekend:

Look who Cookie and I ran into in Maui! World Series MVP and former Dodger Corey Seagar, and our @Dodgers Captain Justin Turner. @redturn2 @coreyseager_5 pic.twitter.com/sRXVAG1Ktl

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) December 11, 2022

Magic called Turner "Dodgers Captain." Hmm. 

Turner, who helped the Dodgers to the 2020 World Series, could be slotted in to potentially shift between third and first base if the Fish were to sign him. Joey Wendle is the incumbent 3B, while Garrett Cooper is installed at 1B. The Marlins are hoping for a good veteran bat to supplement them, however. 

Turner hasn't played any first base in the majors since 2016, but does have a total of 39 games there in his career. 

The two-time All-Star has hit better at Marlins' LoanDepot park than any other park in the majors during his 15-year career, batting .402 with 22 RBIs in 23 starts there. 

In 2022, Turner finished the season with a .278 average and a .350 on-base percentage, along with 13 HR and 81 RBIs in 128 games. He has spent his last nine seasons with the Dodgers, and has a lifetime .289 average with a very good .366 on-base and an .832 OPS. 

Photo: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports