With Spring Training underway and the Los Angeles Dodgers able to transfer Caleb Ferguson to the 60-day injured list, they officially announced the signing of Justin Turner to a two-year contract. His deal includes a team option for the 2023 season.
“It was a little different. Obviously going into this offseason, coming off of last year, I think there was an expectation for it to be a little slower than normal with trying to figure out what this season would look like and how everything was going to go,” Turner said of free agency.
“But even then, I still think it felt like it was an eternity. It felt like it took forever, but the process for me was great. I had a lot of good conversations with other organizations and competitive teams. One of my biggest things in free agency was wherever I ended up I wanted to make sure I was on a competitor.
“I want a chance to win another World Series, if not multiple World Series. It was definitely flattering to be courted like that from other teams that are competitive and trying to make a big splash. But at the end of the day it all worked out how it was supposed to and I’m back in Dodger Blue like I was supposed to be.”
Turner received interest from a number of teams, with the Milwaukee Brewers reportedly offering him the same amount of money as the Dodgers and even a three-year deal as well.
“I don’t know. It’s hard to say if it was ever close or not,” answered Turner when asked if he nearly agreed to sign with another club. “But there were definitely some ups and downs throughout the process. Some things happened where I wasn’t sure whether or not I was actually going to end up back with the Dodgers. But through the whole process with my agent, the communication was incredible.
“Lines were open and the conversations with Andrew and them passing it on to me, it was pretty reassuring the desire to have me back here was still there. But there were some times where I was like, ‘Oh man, this doesn’t look good. I’m not sure what’s going to happen.’”
Fans played role in Turner re-signing
All offseason, it felt like a reunion between the Dodgers and Turner was likely, it was just a matter of time before it would become official.
Turner recently stated the love he received from Dodgers fans was a big reason he chose to re-sign.
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