The day Justin Turner was an Orioles hero

Justin Turner would be the ideal utility player and a perfect fit for the Orioles if he hadn't outgrown the role.

He plays every infield position and even has one inning of experience in left field. His power developed late. He's a great teammate and is willing to do whatever is asked of him. But the utility train has left the station.

Turner is one of the more attractive pending free agents on the market and his timing is impeccable with career highs across the board: 622 plate appearances, 153 hits, 34 doubles, three triples, 27 home runs, 90 RBIs and a 4.9 WAR. His .493 slugging percentage matches his 2014 total. He hasn't withered under the hot lights of the postseason, going 6-for-15 with a triple, home run, five RBIs and five walks in the Division Series. And all of this for $5.1 million.

The Orioles are set at all four infield positions. They don't seem inclined to move Chris Davis to right field. And the Dodgers will push hard to keep Turner at third base.

I'll always remember covering Turner in spring training and parts of the 2009 and 2010 seasons before the Mets claimed him off waivers. Versatile, friendly, but nothing that really jumped out at you besides the red hair.

Manager Dave Trembley liked him, but he didn't get much of a look, going 3-for-18 in 2009 and 0-for-9 in 2010. He backed up at third base, second base and shortstop.

Turner was a September call-up as a rookie and made three starts among his 12 appearances. Does anyone remember his moment of glory as an Oriole?

Trembley hasn't forgotten about it.

It came in the season finale against the Blue Jays on Oct. 4, 2009. Turner entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning and delivered a go-ahead two-run single. The Orioles won in 11 innings on Brandon League's throwing error that allowed Jeff Fiorentino to reach and Michael Aubrey to score.

The sixth inning began with the Orioles trailing 3-2. Fiorentino singled into center field, Brian Roberts singled into left and Robert Andino walked. Matt Wieters grounded into a force at home and Nick Markakis popped up. Melvin Mora was due up, but Turner took his at-bat and grounded a single up the middle to give the Orioles a 4-3 lead.

Mora was playing his last game with the Orioles, adding a thick layer of drama and leaving Trembley open to heavy criticism from fans as Turner strolled to the plate. What in the world was he thinking here?

"I had asked Melvin a couple of days in advance what he wanted to do for his last series at Camden - I had Juan Samuel with me - because I wanted to make sure Melvin was taken care of," Trembley, now the Braves' director of player development, told me this week.

"He said, 'I will play Friday, not Saturday, and will play Sunday, but when I leave the field after three outs in the top of the (sixth), I am done.' Didn't want to hit in the bottom of the (sixth). I said, 'Melvin, you sure about this?' He said, 'Yes.' Samuel talked with him.

"We had a little announcement planned for him to tip his cap, etc. He didn't want to do it, so I went to Justin Turner and said, 'Be ready to hit for Melvin next inning.' The first three guys got on and I sent Turner up to pinch-hit. The boo birds were out. 'Trembley, what are you doing?' Turner got a two-run pinch-hit single and I looked like a genius. People were now cheering Turner. Little did anyone know this was scripted."

The story has become a real ... wait for it ... page-turner.

Trembley remembers Turner for having "excellent makeup," a reputation that still holds today.

"Thought of him as a second base/third base type at the major league level," Trembley said. "He didn't have the range to play shortstop on an everyday basis at the major league level. He was a line drive hitter. He became a power hitter when he changed his approach at the plate after he left the Orioles. He developed the leg kick like (Jose) Bautista, (Josh) Donaldson, and it has worked for him.

"I've seen Turner a couple of times in recent years. He always thanks for me hitting him the ground balls on the back fields during spring training and for how I treated him. He made a commitment to himself. A tireless worker in the offseason. Came back from some knee problems and is going to make a lot of money this offseason as a free agent.

"I don't see him leaving the Dodgers, but they're going to have to pay him."

Too bad he can't get back on the Orioles payroll.