The Toronto Blue Jays and free agent hitter Justin Turner are in agreement on a one-year, $13 million deal with incentives for the 2024 season, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reports. The veteran is expected to be Toronto’s main designated hitter, but will fill in at third base and first base as necessary, according to Morosi.
Turner is 39 years old but was still able to perform at a high level in 2023. After a nine-year stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he was one of the best third basemen in the league, Turner joined the Boston Red Sox last year as a designated hitter and was one of their best sluggers.
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The veteran played in 146 games last year and totaled 23 home runs, 96 RBIs and a .276 batting average. He has also accumulated a .800 OPS or better in nine of his last 10 seasons.
The Blue Jays will use Turner to help replace Matt Chapman and Brandon Belt on the roster, as Chapman was the team’s starting third baseman and Belt played in 103 games at first base and designated hitter. Instead of using a primary third baseman, Toronto will likely rotate Turner, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Cavan Biggio at the position.
