Email a copy of 'Free Agent Stock Watch: Justin Turner' to a friend
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By Jeff Todd | at
Email a copy of 'Free Agent Stock Watch: Justin Turner' to a friend
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ducoach
The Blue should offer Justin a contract for 4 years @ 55 million. So 2 more years at 3rd base then the last 2 he could move over to 1st. Gonna will definitely be done and there will be some top corner men available. They might even have somebody in their farm system ready. But they do need to keep Turner in Blue.
BlueSkyLA
I don’t care how much they pay him but 3-4 years seems right, and of course they’d be nuts to not extend the QO assuming they don’t do the really right thing and get him extended before the end of the season. Roberts is high on Turner and we can see why. He’s exactly the kind of player every manager wants both on the field and in the clubhouse. And it doesn’t hurt his case that he grew up in Southern California, he’s a fan favorite, and no other 3B option is better. We will soon see how much any of that matters to the Whiz Kids.
agentx
The Dodgers GM Platoon is way too smart to sign Turner. /s
I picture them doing something much more “clever,” maybe overpaying Valbuena in free agency or making a crafty, three-team trade to acquire Jed Lowrie and then obsessively platooning whichever one they acquire with both Kendrick and Segedin.
Then, when one or more of their three suboptimal, under-utilized 3B go on the DL, we can all marvel over how smart Friedman & Co. are for “building depth” while Turner goes about his business having an All Star season elsewhere.
socalblake
I think the Blue have 1st saved for Cody Bellinger in the next few years.
BlueSkyLA
Bellinger could easily be three years off, even assuming he continues to develop, and they are also playing him in the OF, so his future position isn’t really set yet.
agentx
Wouldn’t put it past the Dodgers FO to bundle Bellinger in a two- or three-player overpay for a half season of someone like Mike Minor in a stretch-run half-measure next season instead of pursuing Alex Cobb or another SP of his stature, as they did this year landing blister-man-journeyman Rich Hill instead of Matt Moore..
petfoodfella
I wouldn’t mind Atlanta getting in on him, but only a 2-3 year deal with a higher AAV.
braves25
I like the idea of Atlanta signing him too. I honestly like him over Prado who most people are calling for. I know the Braves have Ruiz and Riley on the way. However they both look to be a couple years away still. They will likely both end up moving to the outfield anyway to make room for Maitan. Give Turner 3 to 4 years and he could be the bridge to Maitan.
southi
I’d imagine that Turner will almost certainly have a qualifying offer attached to him. I kinda doubt that the Braves will pursue him (unless other suitors just fall to the wayside and his price drops significantly).
If the Braves do pursue a free agent thirdbaseman then I’d expect it to be either Martin Prado or Luis Valbuena. Both players have flexibility in position (Prado more so in my mind). Prado is a known presence in Atlanta is is thought to be a great clubhouse influence (and the braves will have young infielders coming through the ranks in the near future). Valbuena has some pop, hits left handed, and can play second and first in addition to his regular position of third.
A lot will depend on how the Braves view the future potential of guys like Adonis Garcia, Kyle Kubitza and Rio Ruiz. Personally I don’t see Garcia as much an obstacle to any of them. Kubitza has faltered in his opportunities but might develop into a role player. Ruiz has been inconsistent with the bat, but has hit fair in his first season in AAA. If it was me, I’d seek better options than the in-house ones.
hooligan
he’s getting four.
A'sfaninUK
Whoever gets him will be getting a bargain because for silly reasons like how long it took him to break out, former status as a non-heralded prospect and playing on a Dodgers team littered with “bigger” names.
I’d bet money he won’t get 5/100 or more, but he absolutely will outproduce (on both offense and defense) almost all hitters making $20+M a year, like Ellsbury for example. I would also bet money on his next 4 years being all-star level.
DESERVES: 6/120
WILL GET: 4/60
southi
I wouldn’t be surprised if he got 4/72 or 3/60. He has produced offensively and defensively in a big market. There won’t be the question if he can handle it in a big market spotlight.
BoldyMinnesota
The only offensive player who’s clearly better then him is encarnacion, who is old, limited to the AL, and won’t earn many years. I wouldn’t be surprised if turner gets the biggest contract of the offseason, but you’re right it won’t be over 100 million
BlueSkyLA
Without getting into dollar figures, this is another case where AL teams have a significant advantage over NL teams in terms of the number of years they can reasonably offer to a 30+ year-old slugger.
BlueSkyLA
A very interesting in-depth piece on Turner’s evolution from marginal utility player to one of the top names in the game here:
latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-evolution…
Includes a lengthy discussion of the roles of sports psychology, retooling his swing for a power stroke, the advice he received from former teammate Marlon Byrd, infield drills to improve the efficiency of his glove work, dietary changes, and finally this year, picking up a lighter bat. It also puts his slow start this season into perspective beyond the statistical.
Philliesfan4life
He would be a perfect fit for the angels next season, he might cost a draft pick but he would be worth it.
cubsdynasty
Zobrist was traded mid season, no QO
Jeff Todd
I have no idea why I wrote that. Will fix it.
pixeld
Well written article, Jeff.
cgeorge321
Ben Zobrist had a qualifying offer last year?
bigkempin
No because he got traded mid season…I guess the writer just forgot that he was traded.
Jeff Todd
Yeah not sure how I did that but it was definitely my error.
sbrown285
where’s the red sox fans with their nonsense 4yr/$30 because everyone wanna play at Fenway
thecoffinnail
I honestly can’t figure out why people like you pull stuff like this out of your butt and then preach it like it’s gospel. I am a Yankee fan, so, Red Sox fans are constantly trolling the boards of other sites that I frequent (and I, theirs). I have never, not once, read a post where someone stated that a player would accept a ridiculously low salary, to play at Fenway. Also, please stop with the nonsense of Red Sox/Yankees fans saying that all of their prospects are future HOFers. Again, I have never seen a post containing a statement like that. I have seen several Benintindi/Mike Greenwell comps and the last time I checked Greenwell wasn’t in the HOF. This schtick has gotten really old and it’s a sad day when a Yankee fan has to stick up for Sox fans.
ElysianPark
Sorry, there is no way the Angels would be able to afford Turner. Arte Moreno will not go over the limit. He and his string of GMs have run that organization into the ground with their horrible contracts and foolish trades. And yes, Turner will certainly cost a draft pick, which is something else the Angels cannot afford. Turner wants to stay with the Dodgers. If they decide to pay him, he will stay where he is.
RobRob2
Yanks should jump all over Turner. Puts ball in play with pop. Good fielder. Versatile – 3B, 2B and 1B. Then trade Headley for Brandon McCarthy, who did well here. Money about even..