MLB Network, veteran slugger Justin Turner is getting closer to making his free agent choice, as of
Monday morning.
Turner’s choice is, according to Morosi, “increasingly likely to occur” this week. The Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays,
and San Francisco Giants were among his potential destinations, according to him.
The Boston Red Sox, who seem to have moved on from Turner, were home to the 39-year-old third baseman and designated hitter
during the previous season.
Turner may have started with the Orioles in 2009, but it wasn’t until 2011 that he was given consistent playing time with the Mets.
Turner was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014, and throughout his nine seasons with the team, he was selected for two All-
Star teams.
Turner has maintained his productivity at bat even though he is now in his late 30s. Over the previous three seasons, he has hit.277
with an.807 OPS, driven in 88 runs, and accrued 2.5 WAR annually.
Turner could have chosen to sign a contract extension with the Red Sox in Boston, but he chose to become a free agent. Turner was
still due $6.7 million by the Red Sox.
With Wilmer Flores at designated hitter, J.D. Davis at third base, and LaMonte Wade Jr. at first base, according to FanGraphs’ current
projections, the Giants might start 2024 with Turner at first base due to his positional flexibility. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, have more
room since they have Santiago Espinal and Cavan Biggio platooning at third and backup catcher Danny Jansen now slated to be their
full-time designated hitter.
Turner is getting older, so it’s unclear whether he could replace 24-year-olds Brett Baty and Mark Vientos as the Mets’ third baseman,
but he does appear to be a better designated hitter than DJ Stewart.
Leading prospects Nick Madrigal and Michael Busch of Chicago are scheduled to debut on
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