The Los Angeles Dodgers held a $16 million team option on Justin Turner for the 2023 season but they opted to decline it in favor of paying a $2 million buyout, which made him a free agent.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has said re-signing Turner is a top priority, but it would need to come at a cheaper cost, and his role with the team is up in the air.
Still, the veteran infielder has multiple other suitors, which may put some pressure on the Dodgers to get a deal done if they wish to have Turner back. There are reportedly at least six teams with interest in Turner, including the Miami Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks, and they are now joined by an American League team.
According to Dan Hayes of The Athletic, the Minnesota Twins have Turner on their radar as they look to add offense after losing Carlos Correa to the San Francisco Giants:
Alternatively, a team source said some current free-agent targets include veteran hitters Justin Turner, Joey Gallo and A.J. Pollock.
The Twins did come to terms with Joey Gallo on Friday. As for reported interest in AJ Pollock, it’s unclear where the Twins stand with him now as the team has an abundance of outfielders, especially after the addition of Gallo.
Turner overcame a poor start in 2022 and finished the season batting .278/.350/.438 with 13 home runs and a 123 wRC+. Although Turner’s power declined, he set a career-high with 36 doubles, passing the 34 he hit during the 2016 season.
He also became the third Dodgers player to win the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, which is presented annually to the player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions both on and off the field.
In nine seasons in L.A. after being signed to a Minor League deal, Turner has established himself as a franchise legend, hitting .296/.375/.490 with 235 doubles, 156 home runs and 574 RBI over 1,075 games. He holds several Dodgers postseason records and is the all-time franchise leader in hit-by-pitches.
Marlins made a competitive offer to Justin Turner
The Marlins reportedly made a competitive contract offer to Turner, but it is hard to envision him joining a team not ready to compete during his age-38 season.
This is the third time Turner has been a free agent since joining the Dodgers. He previously re-signed after the 2016 season on a four-year, $64 million contract, and again after the 2020 season on a two-year, $34 million deal.
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