The 2020 MLB Winter Meetings concluded with little activity taking place, which wasn’t much of a surprise considering they were shifted to a virtual event this year and lingering uncertainty created by the ongoing pandemic.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are among the teams yet to enter the free-agent waters despite having a slew of key contributors on the open market. Chief among them is Justin Turner, who completed a seventh season with the team.
This is a second time Turner is a free agent since joining the Dodgers on a Minor League contract. In 2016 he was re-signed to a four-year, $64 million contract.
Although the Dodgers reportedly have retaining Turner as a top priority this offseason, he continues to be linked to the Toronto Blue Jays, among other teams, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network:
Justin Turner is drawing outside interest but the Dodgers remain a fantastic fit. He’s posted an OPS plus of betw 121 and 155 his 7 years back home in LA after never previously cracking 100. The Dodgers will look at Nolan Arenado of course, but Turner is the easier great option.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 10, 2020
Blue Jays are among teams to show interest in Justin Turner. They’ve looked at a multitude of infielders, outfielders and others so hard to tell which way they’ll go. They did have success signing Turner’s teammate Hyun-Jin Ryu, who had a big first year in Toronto/Buffalo.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 10, 2020
Travis Shaw was the Blue Jays’ primary third baseman this past season, though he no longer is under contract one-year deal last December. Toronto previously experimented with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at third base, and he has expressed an interest in returning to that position.
If the Blue Jays are to sign Turner, it would reunite him with former Dodgers teammates Hyun-Jin Ryu and Ross Stripling. Toronto lured Ryu away from the Dodgers last offseason by signing him to a four-year, $80 million contract.
Dodgers would face significant void should Turner leave in free agency
The Dodgers organization boasts an array of depth at multiple positions, but there isn’t a clear-cut replacement for Turner. Edwin Rios presumably would receive an opportunity to earn the starting job, but some questions remain about his long swing.
L.A. reportedly has interest in a Nolan Arenado trade, but doubt remains the Colorado Rockies would be willing to deal within the National League West. Much less send their franchise cornerstone to the Dodgers.
Such a trade could also complicate matters financially for the Dodgers. Corey Seager is due to become a free agent after the 2021 season, and Cody Bellinger and Walker Buehler aren’t far behind.
Re-signing Turner not only would provide the Dodgers with an obvious solution at third base, but also keep one of the team’s key leaders in the clubhouse.
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