Heading into the offseason it appeared doubtful the Los Angeles Dodgers would manage to re-sign Rich Hill, Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner. However, after inking Hill to a three-year, $48 million contract, optimism began to grow that Jansen and Turner would both re-sign.
Nearly one month to the day after rejecting the qualifying offer, Turner and the Dodgers reportedly agreed to a four-year, $64 million contract. The agreement came on the heels the Dodgers were said to have come to terms with Jansen on a five-year, $80 million deal.
According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, Turner’s contract includes a signing bonus and is backloaded in 2017 and 2018, years when the Dodgers have significant salaries coming off their books:
Justin Turner's contract with #Dodgers is very backloaded: $12M in 2017, $11M in 2018, $18M in 2019, $19M in 2020. Signing bonus of $4M.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) December 23, 2016
In addition, Turner agreed to donate one percent of his salary to the Dodgers’ charity, and he receives a $1 million bonus each instance he’s traded, per Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball:
Justin Turner deal official: 4M sign bonus, salaries of 12M, 11M, 18M and 19M. JT will donate 1 pct salary to club charity
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 23, 2016
Turner has no no-trade provision but receives $1M each time traded #dodgers
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 23, 2016
After the 2017 season the Dodgers will no longer owe Carl Crawford salary, and the club can pay $2.5 million to buy out the final year on Andre Ethier’s contract.
As for Turner, he’s coming off the first season of his career as an everyday third baseman. The 32-year-old was named a Gold Glove finalist and batted .275/.339/.493 with 34 doubles, 27 home runs, 90 RBI and a 124 OPS+ over 151 games.
ZiPS projects he will hit .278/.343/.462 with 15 home runs and 65 RBI in 2017. Turner batted .296/.364/.492 with 81 doubles, 50 home runs, 193 RBI and a 136 OPS+ in 386 games over the past three seasons with the Dodgers.
The Dodgers officially announced their four-year contract with Turner on Friday afternoon.
