Breaking: Cubs Sign Ex-All-Star to Fill Void Left by Bregman
It didn’t take long for the Chicago Cubs to pivot after third baseman Alex Bregman’s signing with the Boston Red Sox.
Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reported Tuesday the Cubs and veteran infielder Justin Turner have agreed on a one-year, $6M contract for this season.
Turner, who turned 40 in November, is heading to the North Side after spending last season with the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners.
Despite his age, the veteran infielder was still productive in 2024, posting an above-average 114 OPS+ (100 is league average) in 539 plate appearances. Turner may not be the All-Star he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers for many years, but he can still rake.
The Cubs were in the market for infield depth after their pursuit of Bregman fell short. It’s understandable that they didn’t want to pay Bregman close to $40M per season, and arguably did better in some respects by landing Turner at a much lower annual salary.
Bregman is a superior player to Turner, but in terms of value, it’s hard to dislike paying $6 million for a player who is still productive at the plate and versatile in the field. (Turner can also play first base.).
But how will Chicago deploy Turner? It’s looking like he’ll play a combination of first base and designated hitter, though the Cubs could give the one-time World Series champion (Los Angeles Dodgers 2020) time at the hot corner, per Mooney’s report.
“The Cubs can pair Turner, a right-handed hitter, with first baseman Michael Busch and get him additional at-bats as a designated hitter. Turner has primarily played third base during his 16-year career, though it’s unclear to what extent the Cubs would use him at that position, given his age and their hopes for top prospect Matt Shaw.”
Regardless, Turner is a savvy veteran addition who will add experience and leadership to a Cubs team that seeks its first postseason appearance since 2020 and first National League Central division title since 2017.
