Report: Free Agent Justin Turner Has Suitor In NL Central

The fate of 40-year-old free agent Justin Turner appears to ride partially on what top remaining free agent Alex Bregman decides to do. According to insider Ken Rosenthal, if Bregman passes on signing with the Chicago Cubs—one of the finalists for the two-time All-Star—then they are considering pivoting to filling a corner spot with Turner.

The #Cubs are considering free-agent INF Justin Turner if they are unable to land Alex Bregman in free-agency, per @Ken_Rosenthal pic.twitter.com/9Z0JRiLrqI
— MLB Deadline News (@MLBDeadlineNews) February 10, 2025

League sources tell Rosenthal that "Turner and his wife Kourtney, who is from Indiana, are intrigued by the idea of spending the summer in Chicago...

"Turner’s contract expectations should easily fit within the Cubs’ baseball operations budget." Last year, he signed a one-year, $13M deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, and one would think, now at 40, he could be had for less than that in 2025.

Turner, a former World Series champ with the LA Dodgers, would bring a ton of playoff experience and leadership to the Cubs, who are looking to take that next step. He has played in 86 postseason games in his long and distinguished career and has batted .270 with an .830 OPS, 13 homers and 42 RBIs in the games that matter.

The 16-year veteran hasn't been playing in October in recent seasons, however, spending last season split between the last-place Blue Jays and the division runner-up Seattle Mariners, and in 2023 he was with the last-place Boston Red Sox.

With the Cubs, if they were to sign him, Turner would play a little first base, a little third (his natural position) and some DH.

He has a lifetime .285 batting mark, with a .363 on-base and an .821 OPS, for a 124 OPS+. He's two longballs short of the 200-HR Club.