Dodgers: Justin Turner contract demands with LAD revealed

Justin Turner would like to get paid by the LA Dodgers, please.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one already: The 2020 offseason has been ridiculously quiet, only briefly alighted by various Dodgers championship-related parties.

Nobody is making moves. Nobody is talking moves. Columnists like Ken Rosenthal are so bored they’ve taken to asking whether the Rockies might want to trade the entire left side of their infield to the Dodgers for fun.

We understand if you’ve been lulled to sleep, or so distracted that you forgot there was still a chance Los Angeles could just keep things simple and reunite with Justin Turner, the third baseman who means more to their franchise than he would to any other suitor.

According to Boston Globe insider Pete Abraham, the Dodgers and Turner still maintain mutual interest in a reunion, and Turner’s target is three years.

As Abraham notes,

“Turner has value in the market given his still potent bat and strong performance in the World Series. Dave Roberts and Mookie Betts have said Turner is the key to what has been a strong team culture.Betts said several times during the postseason that Turner sets the tone in the clubhouse. Intangibles, however valuable, are unlikely to merit a three-year commitment. But indications are a compromise can be reached.”

At a certain point this offseason, especially in the wake of Turner’s post-World Series maskless celebration, it seemed an argument could be made for cutting bait with the veteran and shedding a potential problem.

However, it was also abundantly clear during that championship ceremony that the Dodgers bent the rules and bucked health regulations because of how much Turner meant to them. Was either side really willing to sever the partnership?

Though it takes Turner through the twilight of his career, you’d be hard-pressed to see the third baseman’s icon status being matched elsewhere, and a deal would be a drop in the bucket at any price with the Dodgers’ budget.

At worst, you have an elite bench bet at the tail end of the contract. This should be an easy compromise.

Dodgers: Justin Turner’s NSFW Clayton Kershaw pep talk was awesome

Los Angeles Dodgers star Justin Turner was caught dropping a little NSFW pep talk on Clayton Kershaw before he was pulled in Game 5.