In his seventh year with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Justin Turner was ranked among the top 10 third basemen for the 2020 season by MLB Network’s The Shredder.
Turner checked in at No. 7 on the list, ahead of the Cincinnati Reds’ Eugenio Suarez, the Cleveland Indians’ Jose Ramirez and the San Diego Padres’ Manny Machado.
The top six, in order, consists of the Houston Astros’ Alex Bregman, the L.A. Angels’ Anthony Rendon, the Colorado Rockies’ Nolan Arenado, the Oakland Athletics’ Matt Chapman, the New York Mets’ Jeff McNeil and the Minnesota Twins’ Josh Donaldson.
While The Shredder included Turner in its 2020 rankings, he was left off the respective lists of MLB Network analysts Sarah Langs, Ben Lindbergh and Mike Petriello.
Turner hit .290/.372/.509 (132 wRC+) with 24 doubles, matched his career-best in home runs (27) and drove in 67 RBI across 549 plate appearances in 135 games last season.
It was Turner’s sixth consecutive year posting a wRC+ of 123 or better. Since 2014, he ranks third in all of baseball with a 143 wRC+, trailing only Bregman (146) and Donaldson (143).
Turner took a bit of a step back defensively in 2019, but nonetheless was one of the most valuable third basemen. He accumulated 3.4 WAR (FanGraphs), which was good for 12th in the league.
Since the 2014 season, Turner’s 25.3 fWAR ranks sixth in MLB, behind only Donaldson (33.3), Rendon (31.6), Arenado (29.5), Kris Bryant (27.8) and Machado (26.9).
Turner worked during the offseason to improve his throwing arm and changed where he is positioned, both of which have contributed to meeting expectations in the field.
Turner made ‘easy decision’ to play 2020 season
While some MLB players, including Dodgers pitcher David Price, opted out of playing this season, Turner never had any doubts. “Honestly, for me it’s probably been one of the easier decisions in the league,” he said of playing in 2020.
“It’s just me and my wife at home, I don’t have kids. I wanted to play all along. I know there’s a 113-page document full of regulations, guidelines and procedures to try and help protect us as best as possible.
“I know the league and Players Association has been following closely along with other leagues and what they’re doing to ensure safety. I think we’re taking all the right steps and procedures to protect the players once they get inside the stadium.”
| Rank | The Shredder | Mike Petriello | Sarah Langs | Ben Lindbergh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Bregman (Astros) | Alex Bregman (Astros) | Alex Bregman (Astros) | Alex Bregman (Astros) |
| 2 | Anthony Rendon (Angels) | Anthony Rendon (Angels) | Nolan Arenado (Rockies) | Anthony Rendon (Angels) |
| 3 | Nolan Arenado (Rockies) | Nolan Arenado (Rockies) | Anthony Rendon (Angels) | Matt Chapman (Athletics) |
| 4 | Matt Chapman (Athletics) | Matt Chapman (Athletics) | Kris Bryant (Cubs) | Nolan Arenado (Rockies) |
| 5 | Jeff McNeil (Mets) | Rafael Devers (Red Sox) | Matt Chapman (Athletics) | Rafael Devers (Red Sox) |
| 6 | Josh Donaldson (Twins) | Yoan Moncada (White Sox) | Rafael Devers (Red Sox) | Josh Donaldson (Twins) |
| 7 | Justin Turner (Dodgers) | Josh Donaldson (Twins) | Jeff McNeil (Mets) | Manny Machado (Padres) |
| 8 | Eugenio Suarez (Reds) | Kris Bryant (Cubs) | Yoan Moncada (White Sox) | José Ramirez (Indians) |
| 9 | José Ramirez (Indians) | José Ramirez (Indians) | Josh Donaldson (Twins) | Kris Bryant (Cubs) |
| 10 | Manny Machado (Padres) | Jeff McNeil (Mets) | Eugenio Suarez (Reds) | Eugenio Suarez (Reds) |
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