Dodgers: Pros and Cons of re-signing Justin Turner next offseason

Pro (Re-sign him!): Who would replace him?

If the Dodgers move on from Justin Turner next season, there aren’t many obvious choices to replace his production at third base.

The team could look to replace the veteran from within their farm system, perhaps giving prospect Edwin Rios a chance to shine at third. The 26-year-old played well during his call-up to the majors last season, and also had a strong showing in Oklahoma City. He can play multiple positions, similar to utility players on the roster, such as Matt Beaty, so the Dodgers could piece together a solution at third if Turner is gone. However, both Rios and Beaty are probably best served in bench roles, and would represent a downgrade for a current position of strength.

On the open market, the options are more limiting. There is Jake Lamb, who has suffered through major injuries over the past two seasons, and struggles against left-handed pitching. And there is Asdrubal Cabrera, who like Turner, is reaching an advanced point of his career. After that, the pickings are slim, unless the Dodgers looked to a player like DJ LaMahieu or Tommy La Stella to transition to the hot corner on a more full-time basis.

The best argument for bringing Turner back to the Dodgers is looking at the candidates to replace him. Unless the team could swing a trade for someone, there aren’t many attractive options on their roster or in the free agent market.