Dodgers agree to terms with Justin Turner on two-year deal
by Rowan Kavner
The Dodgers announced they’ve agreed to terms with third baseman Justin Turner on a two-year deal.
Turner, one of the longest-tenured and most revered members of the Dodgers both for his work on the field and in the Los Angeles community, returns to the team he’s played for since 2014. Only Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen have been Dodgers for longer than Turner.
Turner posted a 307/.400/.460 slash line with four home runs and 23 RBI in 42 games last year, missing the start of September with a hamstring injury. He returned in the postseason, where he continued to etch himself deeper into the Dodger record books.
The 36-year-old, who had an .804 OPS with three home runs during the 2020 postseason, is now the Dodger all-time playoff record holder in hits (79), home runs (12), doubles (19), RBI (41) and total bases (136). In his 72 Dodger playoff games, Turner has a .295/.392/.507 slash line.
Turner, who went 13-for-33 (.394) with two home runs in September, entered the 2020 postseason having reached base safely in 31 straight games to end the regular season. It’s the longest on-base streak of Turner’s career and was the second longest streak in the Majors in 2020 behind only Freddie Freeman’s 33-game streak.
Turner finished the regular season tied for the best batting average on the team with Corey Seager and with the second best on-base percentage on the team behind only Will Smith (.401). He was also the Dodgers’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award for the third time in four years and was the Dodgers’ Roy Campanella Award winner for the third time in four years.
The Dodgers placed left-handed pitcher Caleb Ferguson on the 60-day injured list to make room for Turner on the 40-man roster. Ferguson underwent Tommy John surgery in September.
