3 right-handed sluggers Dodgers can sign to replace Justin Turner

Justin Turner is the longest-tenured member of the Los Angeles Dodgers not named Clayton Kershaw and his career with the team could be coming to an end. While the Dodgers signed Kershaw to a new one-year deal, the team also declined Turner’s club option for the 2023 season.

There’s still a situation in which the Dodgers bring back Turner, save some money, and do the longtime third baseman a favor as well. However, there’s also a situation in which Turner gets an offer he cannot refuse from another team and leaves the Dodgers after spending nearly a decade with the team.

While there are many directions the Dodgers can go this offseason, if Turner leaves, then the team could look to replace him with another veteran right-handed slugging bat. Aaron Judge is obviously the best right-handed slugger the Dodgers could add, but there are also options that are more of a direct Turner replacement.

These guys can live mostly in the DH spot while providing some relief on defense when manager Dave Roberts wants to get some of the starters off their feet for a few games.

3 right-handed sluggers the Dodgers can sign to replace Justin Turner

3. Jose Abreu

The 2020 American League MVP is hitting free agency after a bounce-back season with the Chicago White Sox. Jose Abreu did not follow up his MVP campaign with a great season in 2021, but we saw him return to form as a slugging first baseman in 2022.

Abreu slashed .304/.378/.446 with 15 home runs, 75 RBI and 85 runs scored. While the big power numbers might not have been there, Abreu was still a well-above-average hitter last season, finishing with a 137 wRC+.

The ball may not have left the yard all that often, but Abreu was still making great contact and has a lot of power. He ranked in the top 7% in the league in average exit velocity and in the top 3% in hard-hit rate. His xSLG was .487, which was in the top 8% of the league.

Spotrac estimates Abreu will get a two-year contract of just under $25.5 million. While he would have to DH in Los Angeles with Freddie Freeman playing first base, that would be a great price ($12.75 million per year) for someone who still hits the ball at an elite level.

While he’s getting up there in age (he’ll be 36 next year), he’s been nothing but reliable. Abreu has played in 93.7% of the White Sox’s games since coming into the league and has missed only a combined 15 games in the last three seasons.

1. Mitch Haniger

The Seattle Mariners just traded for All-Star outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, which likely signals the end of Mitch Haniger’s tenure with the team. With so much depth already in the outfield, it would be surprising if Haniger re-signed with the M’s after Wednesday’s trade.

Haniger is not as big of a name as the other players on this list, but he could fill more of a direct role on the team. The Dodgers’ outfield depth is pretty thin, and while they have a promising prospect coming up to fill one spot, the team would benefit from another right-handed outfielder not named Trayce Thompson.

Though the slugger is coming off of a down year in which he only played 57 games, his ceiling as a right-handed bat is really intriguing. In 2021, Haniger received an MVP vote as he slashed .253/.318/.485 with 39 home runs and 100 RBI.

Haniger’s overall career numbers are solid as well. He’s posted a career .811 OPS in 564 games played. He has a career 122 wRC+. Haniger’s wRC+ against lefties since 2017 is nearly identical to Justin Turner’s too, with Haniger checking in at 132 and Turner checking in at 135.

Also, for what it’s worth, Martinez has the third-best wRC+ against lefties in that time frame and Abreu has the 10th-best.

If Haniger is the same price as Martinez or Abreu, then the Dodgers are better off paying the better bats and sticking them at DH. However, if Haniger’s injuries have lowered his price to that of a one-year prove-it deal, then the Dodgers could add a quality right-handed bat that also provides outfield depth.

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