Editorials

Dodgers Rumors: Justin Turner Running Out of Alternatives

The Dodgers have a myriad of options if Justin Turner departs. Turner, however, does not seem to have that same luxury.

The St. Louis Cardinals are nearing a deal with Dexter Fowler, thus eliminating one prominent suitor for Turner (unless the Cardinals move salary). The San Francisco Giants were reportedly “open-minded” about Turner, but signing Mark Melancon leaves the financial well dry.



The list of teams who can reasonable give Turner four or five years and north of $80 million is dwindling. Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports mentioned the Los Angeles Angels as a dark horse destination, given the team’s need at third base and the ability to offer Turner a close-to-home alternative. Heyman, however, calls it a “long shot” marriage.

Interestingly, Turner’s two former employers, the Mets and Orioles, could use Turner’s bat, but either reunion is unlikely. The Mets just paid Yoenis Cespedes and have to be mindful of long-term salary commitments with their wave of pitching due in the coming years. The Orioles have Manny Machado at third and are searching for outfield help. The Atlanta Braves were another low profile destination, but after investing over $25 million in R.A. Dickey, Bartolo Colon and Sean Rodriguez, they appear unlikely as well.

[graphiq id=”aTc1ulufLnf” title=”Justin Turner” width=”500″ height=”748″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/aTc1ulufLnf” link_text=”Graphiq” ]

At this point, barring the always sneaky “mystery team,” the Angels are the Dodgers’ biggest threat. The team has the power to spend and keep Turner home. The Angels aren’t a contender, however, which plays to the Dodgers’ advantage if a bidding war erupts.

Turner may be the best free agent on the market, but he’s running out of fits. The longer Turner goes unsigned, the better for the Dodgers. But at some point, Los Angeles is going to want to make its own decision. We’ll see if Turner is part of it.

Stay or go, Justin Turner is Hosting a Golf Tournament in January

Gabe Burns

Gabe Burns is an award-winning journalist. He serves as a reporter and editor at the DodgersNation news desk. He additionally works as editor-in-chief of The Spectator, Valdosta State University's student paper. Gabe's work has been featured on a number of platforms, including Draft Breakdown and Pro Football Spot. His byline has been cited in media such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune. Aside from covering Dodgers baseball, Gabe enjoys watching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Orlando Magic and Tampa Bay Lightning. He can be followed on Twitter at @GabeBurns_DN.

12 Comments

  1. Looks like the Dodgers do not sign Jansen. I had a feeling they might not do that as they had so many young arms in the Bullpen last year. The finances of the club going into the future being handled by Kasten should tell us that Stan is not going to give a reliever 80-90 million for 5 years. Not when he has all of those young arms on the Farm.
    Look at the Atlanta Braves when he was there. Judicious trades for needs and then all Home Grown…That club made a ton of money. Which is the point for Guggenheim.
    I believe that of the two Turner is the MUST sign. He is a leader in the clubhouse. Has a Gold Glove quality glove and is arguably the best hitter on the club. 
    Losing Turner would be very hard to recover from The Dodgers to me were all ready practicing for the loss of Jansen last year.

  2. Tmaxster JT is a MUST sign, but still he alone does not solve Dodger’s immense problems against LHP and as of now, be prepared for opposing teams to load up against the Dodgers with LHP at every possible chance.

  3. pauldodgerfan1965 Tmaxster Paul completely agree with you. If they do not sign Jansen they may make a trade with Minnesota for a power right hand 2ndbaseman. Rumor is the Twins like Stewart. I think they Must sign JT. I believe they will again see what they have in house. They liked Thompson a lot. And he had controlled his strikeout problem and is very gifted at the plate and in the Outfield plus has excellent work ethic. And maturity for his age. He comes from an elite athletic family and understands how to handle himself. 
    I would be surprised if they sign Jansen at this point as the money for him is crazy and the Dodgers would get their draft pick for him…
    There are several young arms that can help in the Pen….And then there is a bunch of money coming off the books next year.
    This is a long range rebuild project while attempting to stay competitive. Not an easy task But so far so good. 
    They lost to a better team last year.

  4. Tmaxster pauldodgerfan1965
    Concur on all points here.  Hopefully Thompson can be a big RHB for the OF.  Getting Reddick at last year’s deadline only made Dodgers more lopsided on the left side than it already was. Most of our run production came from the left side and the one big RHB in JT was not good against LHP but I understand he is working on that.  We have young arms for the pen but IMHO neither Hatcher or Baez are presently equipped to handle closer situations in crunch time.

  5. pauldodgerfan1965 Tmaxster Yes we agree… They have some guys though like Liberatore before he got hurt and Raven with his 100 mph stuff that can fight for a spot. Garcia has gotten more experience as has Baez. Hatcher has the stuff to be a closer but not the mind so far. 
    There is a good chance they use some of the young arms in the BP. 
    I think JT will work on hitting Lefties. He had an odd year. My daughter is a PT and she had told me that micro-fracture surgery can be a difficult rehab with slow recovery. I think JT was not himself until into the second half. 
    Thompson and if he is still around Puig will help with the lefties. I think if they have Toles leading off he will help as he just flat hits the ball….
    Seager can hit anyone from either side. 
    If they pick up a Solid hitting 2nd baseman and can keep JT they look to have a very good line up. 
    I am fine with the Rotation. And I am OK not spending close to 90 Million on Jansen and getting another great draft pick.

  6. Tmaxster pauldodgerfan1965
    Baez does not have the make up to be a closer. In 3 PS he has put the team in a hole by poor reliefs performances where he surrendered go ahead runs or put game out of Dodger’s reach.  Ravin can throw hard but without movement or location on his fastball hitters will square them up.  Yes a solid RH hitting 2B would be helpful because Dodgers were last in MLB hitting LHP.

  7. pauldodgerfan1965 Everything I read says they like Rave, Garcia, Liberatore and are working on Baez and Hatcher… Both Baez and Hatcher have the arms but need some mental adjustments…HA 
    We shall see.
    Baez and Hatcher to me have proved not to be good candidates but they apparently do not agree.

  8. Tmaxster pauldodgerfan1965
    Well, bringing Hatchet back was questionable at best considering  what took place in 2016 before he went down with one of the Dodger’s record setting amount of injuries. I guess they may not have seen enough of Baez either, IDK.

  9. pauldodgerfan1965 Tmaxster My Predictions are that Puig stays, Outfield in the spring consists of Puig, Etheir, Toles, Thompson, Peterson, Van Slyke. I think they sign Turner, have Seager at SS and of course Gonzo at first. I think with Jansen out they trade for or sign a middle-ish reliever and maybe a second baseman that can hit LH pitching. I know they like Calhoun…

    They have Verdugo and Bellinger play in the Outfield in the Spring to get a good look…
    Rotation of Kershaw, Maeda, Hill and Urias. I think they attempt to trade McCarthy and Kazmir. They use Wood as rotation or releif and no one knows about Ryu. And the other young arms if not traded are Stripling, Stewart, DeLeon, Oaks, DeJong, Raven and Alvarez….
    We shall see..that is the fun of it…..

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