January 31st: Sportsnet's Shi Davidi report Breakdown of Turner's incentive package. He will earn a $125,000 bonus if he reaches 500, 525, 550, or 575 at-bats, and an additional $250,000 bonus if he reaches 600, 625, or 650 at-bats. Turner also earns a $150,000 bonus if he reaches 120 days on the active roster and an additional $100,000 bonus if he spends 150 days on the active roster.
January 30th: Blue Jays announce new designated hitter for 2024 season, free agent signing Justin Turner 1 year contract. The contract with Vayner Sports' client is reportedly worth $13 million, with an additional $1.5 million available based on both roster bonuses and performance incentives, bringing the contract value up to $14.5 million.
Turner turned 39 in November, but shows no signs of age in 2023, batting .276/.345/.455 with 23 home runs, 31 doubles, 8.1% walk rate, and strikeouts. He recorded a strikeout rate of 17.6%. He appeared in 146 games and 626 at-bats with the Red Sox.
As measured by wRC+, Turner was about 14% better than league average in at-bats. His amazing 10th straight season in at bats he was at least 14% or better. He remains a top infield corner and designated hitter option, giving Toronto a “professional hitter” in its lineup — one who is also generally respected for his leadership and presence in the clubhouse. is.
The consistency Turner brings to the plate is pretty remarkable. Since establishing himself as a regular with the Dodgers, he has never batted less than .275, OBP less than .339, slugged percentage less than .438, or struck out in more than 18% of his at-bats in the past 10 seasons. Overall, he was a .293/.371/.486 hitter at that point. He averaged 24 home runs and 35 doubles in 162 games over that 10-year span.
Turner's contract with the Red Sox was for two years and a total of $22.7 million, with a player option in the second year. He will earn an $8.3 million salary in 2023 and also received a $6.7 million buyout when he declines his option to return to the open market. Turner has less guaranteed money in his new contract than he did a year ago, but with incentives it will roughly match the $15 million he ultimately received in his only year in Boston. And given that the player option was a net $7.7 million call for him, he still clearly had the upper hand in the decision to decline the player option.
Turner will be the Jays' primary designated hitter, but could also split time at the hot corner with free agent signees. Isaiah Kinner Falefa (Or another acquisition that hasn't happened yet). He also has 527 career innings as a first baseman, including 289 innings last year with Boston, making him a strong option for spells. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Even when you need a break.
If there's one flaw in the matchup between the two from a team perspective, it's that Turner adds another right-handed bat to a lineup that is already heavily skewed toward that side of the plate.He effectively replaces left-handed players. brandon beltHe had a particularly strong year in 2023 as the Jays' battalion anchor while remaining unsigned.
As it is, left field dalton varshocenter field Kevin Kiermaier and infielder Cavan Biggio He is the only left-hander projected in Toronto's lineup. No one in that group is a particularly formidable left-handed presence, and all work best in a platoon configuration. Turner has had a slightly better career record against right-handed pitchers than left-handed pitchers, which helps alleviate some of the concerns, but given the lack of balance in the batting lineup, the Jays are still at a premium. He may have a tough time against right-handed pitchers.
Turner has been the biggest upgrade to Toronto's lineup so far this offseason.the jays were excited Shohei Otani and we met again Yoshinobu YamamotoHowever, both players ultimately signed with the Dodgers.The Jays are also said to have a strong interest in his left-handed swing. Joc Pederson before he signed a contract comparable to Turner's with the D-backs.
The Jays have been linked to a number of bat-first players over the past month, speaking with representatives of the free agent slugger. JD Martinez, Jorge Soler, Rhys Hoskins And Pederson. Their interest in Turner dates back to at least mid-December, and now that it's clear in the contract, the Jays are likely out of the running for unsigned DH options like Martinez or Soler.Turner joins Kinner Falefa, Kiermaier and former NPB right-hander Yariel Rodriguez He has been named as a free agent to watch for the Jays so far in the 2023-24 offseason.
The addition of Turner should push the Blue Jays firmly into luxury tax territory.His final salary in Toronto was $228 million. in front By agreeing to terms with Turner, the Jays were already just over the $237 million luxury barrier, according to Roster Resources. Mr. Turner expects to bring both numbers forward by $13 million. Since the Jays are second-time taxpayers, the penalty is fairly light. The first $20 million above the threshold would simply be taxed at 30%, and any additional $20 million would be taxed at an additional 42%. More are planned for the future.
As for Turner's contract, they ended up paying a hefty penalty of $3.9 million, which clearly wasn't a significant deterrent for them. The Jays' current projected opening day salary of $240 million is a franchise record of more than $30 million and last surpassed the high-water mark of $210 million established last year.
Looking ahead, it appears the Jays could still make further moves, with Biggio, Kiner-Falefa, and third base currently planning to split playing time between second and third base. davis schneider and Santiago Espinal. Schneider, in particular, had an interesting debut in 2023 hitting .276/.404/.603, but that was just a fraction of 141 at-bats, and he posted a .369 BABIP in addition to a 30.5% strikeout rate. Recorded. Some setbacks should certainly be expected. Kinel Falefa is best known for his defensive versatility and is a better utility option than an everyday player. Biggio had a solid performance in this tournament in 2023, but was unable to repeat his performance from the 2019-20 season. Espinal is hitting a career-worst .248/.310/.335.
In the rotation, Toronto still faces uncertainty at the back of the group. Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt and the resurrection Jose Berrios They form a strong top three, but Yusei Kikuchi There is a lack of consistency from year to year; Alec Manoah He struggled on the mound through a disastrous season. The aforementioned Rodriguez could eventually become a rotation option, but with strict innings limits this season, that likely won't happen until 2025.top prospects Ricky Tiedemann He could make his debut as early as 2024, but so far he has only pitched four innings above the Double-A level.
The Blue Jays have been linked to several notable names who have yet to sign – cody bellinger, blake snell and matt chapman among them. Toronto has Varsho, Kiermaier, george springer Turner became the designated hitter instead of an outfielder, making the rotation, including the DH spot, more difficult. Adding another bat or rotation piece would help alleviate the pain of missing out on a top target early in the winter, but with prices already soaring beyond the franchise's previous spending levels, owners It remains unclear how much money they want to spend.
MLB Network's John Morosi first reported the news. agreement And that clause.
