One day after it was reported that longtime MLB infielder Justin Turner had pared his free agency decision down to four teams, Turner has signed with the Toronto Blue Jays.
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Turner's free agency decision was announced Tuesday morning on X by MLB Network insider Jon Morosi, who also noted that the infielder's one-year deal with the Blue Jays has a $13 million base salary with $1.5 million in roster and performance bonuses.
Sources: Justin Turner, Blue Jays in agreement on 1-year deal. @MLBNetwork @FAN590 @Sportsnet
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 30, 2024
In a follow-up post, Morosi said that he "Would expect Justin Turner to be the Jays' primary DH in 2024, with additional starts at 1B and 3B."
Would expect Justin Turner to be the Jays' primary DH in 2024, with additional starts at 1B and 3B, based on what I've been told. https://t.co/bpErqv4OU1
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 30, 2024
Despite Turner being 39 years old, signing him makes a lot of sense for Toronto. The two-time All-Star and 2020 World Series champion hit .276 with 23 home runs and a career-high 96 RBIs with the Boston Red Sox last season. And given that Turner will be playing DH — and, therefore, will not have to worry much about fielding — we could see his hitting stats increase even more next season.
While the Blue Jays had an average offense in the MLB last season, most of that production was owed to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and George Springer. Adding Turner to that equation should allow Toronto to score more runs and provide extra protection for those three stars.
What's more, Turner has become a fan favorite for every team he has ever played on, due to his positive, high-energy demeanor and leadership ability. While the Blue Jays have a ton of young talent, they lacked veteran leadership last season — which is one reason why they struggled down the stretch and in the playoffs.
Turner's presence in the locker room should bring a ton of confidence and direction to Toronto — perhaps even making it a contender to win the AL East for the first time since 2015.
Now that Turner has found a team, the market for Matt Chapman, another free agent infielder and former Blue Jay, should become clearer.
Morosi noted on X that with Turner headed to Toronto, he believes the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants are now favorites to sign Chapman — with the Yankees being considered another potential landing spot for the four-time Gold Glove Award winner.
Although this might be the final year we see Turner in the MLB, we wouldn't be surprised if he soon becomes a fan favorite for Canada's baseball team.
