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

Pro: (Re-sign him!): Dodgers in a win-now mode

It’s difficult to weigh the pros and cons of re-signing Justin Turner without setting the parameters of a potential deal. The Los Angeles Dodgers are built to win now, despite having a roster stocked with up-and-coming talent, along with veteran leaders. On the short term, it certainly makes sense to keep Turner in their clubhouse.

If the 2020 season is canceled, or the Dodgers fall short of their ultimate goal again, it might prove necessary to re-sign Turner to one more contract. Even if the back-end of the deal proves expensive, that might be the cost of business if the team wants to avoid creating a hole in their lineup in the near term.

The projection systems still view Turner as an above average hitter in 2021 and 2022, so perhaps the Dodgers could squeeze the final life from the third baseman’s career as they continue to seek an elusive modern day championship.

As detailed on an earlier slide, the options to replace Turner’s production are scare, and it could end up costing the team more in free agent dollars or trade-able assets to make up for his loss than it would to re-sign him to a new contract.