Aside from extending qualifying offers to Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner there’s yet to be much movement on the free agency front from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jansen and Turner predictably rejected the one-year, $17.2 million contracts by Monday’s deadline.
Now both are experiencing an offseason as a free agent for the first time in their respective careers. Turner was non-tendered by the New York Mets after the 2013 season, which pushed him into free agency, though the situation wasn’t comparable to where he now sits.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has openly identified Jansen and Turner as priorities for the club this winter. But Friedman added the Dodgers are mindful of allowing the duo to explore the free-agency process.
Whereas Jansen is one of three marquee closers on the open market, Turner stands alone as the top third baseman. According to David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports Radio, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are among the teams with interest in Turner:
Talked to multiple sources that have told me Angels are interested in Justin Turner. #HotStove #DodgerTalk
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) November 16, 2016
The San Francisco Giants, who shuffled through multiple players at the hot corner this season, were previously reported as being open to pursuing Turner. Anaheim is expected to exercise their $7 million club option on Yunel Escobar.
Escobar batted .304/.355/.391 with 28 doubles, five home runs and 39 RBI over 132 games in his first season with the Angels. The 34-year-old didn’t play a position other than third base, but he’s hardly considered a defensive standout at the position.
That’s in comparison to Turner, who was a Gold Glove finalist, and ranked second among qualified Major League third basemen with a 14.1 Ultimate Zone Rating and sixth with seven Defensive Runs Saved.
As for offensively, 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.
