Justin Turner Predictably Becomes Free Agent After Mutual Option Declined

Per an announcement from the MLB Players Association, Justin Turner was among a group of six players who became free agents on Thursday after their option decisions were resolved. While it was not specifically noted which side declined first on Turner’s mutual option, it was most certainly the Cubs. I don’t care how great he was as a clubhouse presence, there’s no way they were going to pay a 41-year-old $10 million to serve as a de facto bench coach.

Instead, Turner will earn a $2 million buyout and can seek gainful employment elsewhere. Or he may just choose to call it a career after 6,502 plate appearances over parts of 17 seasons for seven different teams. And that’s not counting his time with the Reds, who drafted him in the seventh round way back in 2006 and then traded him to the O’s after the 2008 season. Turner was a late bloomer who toiled in obscurity for the Orioles and Mets before being signed to a minor league deal by the Dodgers just before spring training in 2014.

He had been released by the Mets and was back at his Southern California home to play in a Cal State Fullerton alumni game when Dodgers bench coach Tim Wallach noticed him. Turner went on to post at least 3.4 fWAR over each of the next seven full seasons, and put up at least a 123 wRC+ in all nine of his years with the Dodgers. He bounced around from there and found a home in Chicago, close to where his wife grew up, as a platoon hitter.

Despite overall low production and a lack of defensive versatility, the right-handed-hitting Turner provided value by slashing .276/.330/.429 with a 112 against southpaws. That made him a solid option to spell Michael Busch from time to time, though his age and lack of power made it necessary for the Cubs to go in a different direction.

Regardless of what happens next for Turner, he’s had one helluva career and is universally respected as both a ball knower and a good human being.