The timing could not have been better for Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner to reach free agency. Jansen was dominant in the postseason, coinciding with a shift in managers aggressively using their bullpens, and is one of the top closers available.
Meanwhile, Turner had another productive season with the Dodgers, and is the top third baseman available on the open market. The Los Angeles Dodgers extended qualifying offers to both players, which Jansen and Turner are essentially a lock to reject.
Although the Dodgers presumably have high interest in re-signing both players, they figure to receive competition from several clubs that are looking to upgrade at third base and in the bullpen.
Chief among them is the San Francisco Giants, who are open to pursuing Turner, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network:
#SFGiants open-minded on pursuit of free agent Justin Turner, among other possible avenues to deepen lineup, sources say.” @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 8, 2016
Considering the issues Giants relievers had down the stretch of the season and against the Chicago Cubs in the National League Division Series, they may very well be in the mix for Jansen prior to the dust settling.
San Francisco primarily used Connor Gillaspie and Eduardo Nunez at the hot corner. Nunez was acquired via trade in July from the Minnesota Twins. Gillaspie hit .262/.307/.440 with eight doubles, six home runs and 25 RBI.
Nunez batted .269/.327/.418 with nine doubles, four home runs and 20 RBI over 50 games with the Giants.
In three seasons with the Dodgers, Turner hit .296/.364/.492 with 81 doubles, 50 home runs, 193 RBI and a 136 OPS+. This season marked Turner’s first as the everyday third baseman. Though he’s lauded for his offensive production, Turner was nominated for a Rawlings Gold Glove.
He has until 2 p.m. PT on Monday, Nov. 14, to accept or reject the qualifying offer from the Dodgers. Should Turner reject it and sign elsewhere, Los Angeles will receive a compensatory pick in the 2017 Draft.
