BREAKING NEWS: The Jays are wagering $13 million that Justin Turner is still capable.

Longtime Dodgers player Justin Turner has transitioned to a new chapter in his baseball career, joining the Toronto Blue Jays after a season with the Boston Red Sox. Turner, known for his consistency as a “professional hitter,” will be earning $13 million this season, with the potential for an additional $1.5 million in bonuses and incentives.

Despite the familiarity of Turner’s name in baseball, some may be surprised to learn that he played alongside Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s father during his early years with the Orioles. Turner, at 39 years old, brings a wealth of experience to Toronto, having played four years of college baseball, gone through the draft, spent three seasons in the minors, and played parts of two seasons in the majors with the Orioles before Guerrero Sr. even arrived there.

Turner’s age, while still relatively young in the grand scheme of life, is considered advanced for a professional baseball player. Nevertheless, he is expected to be a key contributor on the field, especially considering the terms of his contract, which suggest his role in helping the team make a playoff push.

The veteran ballplayer recently celebrated his 39th birthday, a notable milestone, even when adjusting for the “exchange rate” of age in Canada, as humorously mentioned in the article. Despite his age, Turner’s career trajectory is quite unique, having played college baseball at Cal State Fullerton alongside Chad Cordero, reaching the College World Series in 2003. His journey from college baseball to the majors, through various teams and experiences, adds depth to his baseball legacy.

The article mentions Sam Fuld, currently in his fourth season as an MLB GM, and Brian Wilson, known for his distinctive beard and impactful presence in the baseball world over a decade ago. The focus then shifts to Justin Turner, highlighting his career evolution and his recent move to the Toronto Blue Jays for a reasonable $13 million.

While acknowledging Turner’s age and the era of portable cassette players, the article emphasizes that Turner, in his early 30s, was once a consistent and elite hitter with a regular 140 or 150 wRC+ – a testament to his prowess as one of the best hitters in baseball during that period.

In 2023, Turner posted a .276/.345/.455 slash line, resulting in a wRC+ of 114. The piece notes that Fenway Park’s hitter-friendly environment did not significantly influence his offensive performance, as his road wRC+ was 116, and his home wRC+ was 113. Furthermore, Turner excelled against left-handed pitching, boasting a .285/.372/.528 line with a wRC+ of 142.

Despite Turner’s bat showing a decline over the past four years in terms of both results and contact quality, the article suggests that he started from such a high standard that he still remains a valuable asset for the Blue Jays. The team’s lineup, dominated by right-handed hitters like Guerrero, Springer, Bichette, Kirk, Jansen, and Schneider, showcases Toronto’s inclination towards right-handed batters, a trend that hasn’t seemed to bother the team in the past.

Turner is the kind of player who will continue to hit offensively until his bat slows down due to age. And it may all fall at once, or it could happen gradually, as it appears to be doing. His 2023 performance versus four-seamers was below average for the first time since Baseball Savant began tracking those metrics, so if you were searching for a concerning indication, that would be it. Turner isn’t as good against velocity in particular as he was five years ago, but it too appears to be a slow decline.

The article evaluates Justin Turner’s offensive potential and the terms of his one-year deal, ranging between $13 million and $14.5 million. While the author acknowledges Turner’s offensive capabilities, they express a preference for players like Rhys Hoskins, Jeimer Candelario, or Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who all received multi-year guarantees. The article also highlights Mitch Garver, who, despite being a bat-first catcher, would present an additional inconvenience for the Blue Jays given their current roster needs.

Turner’s unique contribution lies in his defensive abilities, setting him apart from players like Hoskins and Gurriel. Although Toronto is well-set in positions like catcher, DH, and the outfield, they face gaps at second and third base – positions Turner played for Boston last year.

The author acknowledges that Turner, despite being one of the slowest players in baseball and having unfavorable defensive metrics, could be deployed at third base if necessary. The Blue Jays have a pool of players, including Turner, Schneider, Cavan Biggio, Santiago Espinal, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who could potentially fill the gaps at third base.

Signing Turner brings the Blue Jays over the payroll figure from the previous year, putting them back into the realm of the competitive balance tax for a second consecutive season. While Turner’s $13 million salary may seem reasonable in isolation, the article suggests that his lack of baserunning and defensive value plays a role in the team’s decision-making. Notably, Turner is projected to earn less than Toronto’s outgoing third baseman, Matt Chapman, who shares the alma mater of Cal State Fullerton with Turner.

The crucial question raised by the article is not whether Turner can contribute to the Blue Jays – it’s evident that he can. Rather, the focus is on whether signing Turner is a strategic move in addition to someone who could potentially offer more value or instead of someone who might provide greater assistance to the team.