Justin Turner certainly felt wanted.
“The fans all offseason have been reaching out through social media, encouraging me to come back, expressing their desire for me to come back and the support has been unbelievably overwhelming,” Turner said from Camelback Ranch Friday, four days before the Dodgers’ first full-squad workout is scheduled.
“My wife and I take our dogs on walks through the neighborhood every night and there were people walking on the streets yelling, ‘You got to sign back. You got to come back.’”
Both Turner and the Dodgers wanted that outcome to Turner’s free agency as well. After what Turner said “felt like an eternity, right?” he announced on social media Saturday that he had agreed to a new contract with the Dodgers.
That deal became official Friday with the Dodgers moving left-hander Caleb Ferguson to the 60-day Injured List to create a roster spot for Turner. Ferguson underwent Tommy John surgery last year (his second) and is not expected to pitch in 2021.
“There’s a lot of potential pathways that the offseason can go. But for us, all of our kind of ‘A’ scenarios in terms of how things played out had JT returning,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Friday. “That being said, obviously, we weren’t sure that’s what was going to happen. But I think anytime you enter into the winter with both sides, wanting something to happen, I think it increases the odds.
“We had at the beginning of the offseason talked to his representative Greg Genske, and stated how important JT was to us and what a priority it was for us but to let him go out and run his process. … We told them that they wouldn’t read about us making a move elsewhere, that we would reach out to them, if something was getting hot on our end. Obviously we had to do our work to kind of line up some alternatives in the event it didn’t work out. But that ideally we would let their process fully play out and that we would be there and our optimal outcome was exactly what we’re announcing today. So all’s well that ends well.”
Turner said he was only interested in signing with a contender and he was linked with the Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, Toronto Blue Jays and even one of his former teams, the New York Mets, at various points during the offseason. He could not say how close he came to signing anywhere but Los Angeles.
“I think it’s hard to say if it was ever close or not,” Turner said. “But there’s definitely some ups and downs throughout the process where some things happened where I wasn’t sure whether or not I was actually going to end up back with the Dodgers. … There were some times where I was like, ‘Oh man this doesn’t look good. Like, I’m not sure what’s going to happen.’”
There were reports that Turner aimed high in negotiations with teams this winter, seeking as much as a four-year contract. What he wound up signing with the Dodgers is a two-year deal for $34 million that includes an $8 million signing bonus paid out over the next five years with salaries of $8 million in 2021 and $16 million in 2022. There is also a club option for 2023 (with a $2 million buyout) that vests at $17.5 million or more depending on MVP voting in 2022.
The uncertain status of the DH rule in the National League was one factor that extended Turner’s unemployment deep into the offseason, potentially affecting the 36-year-old’s value to an NL team. The way Turner’s 2020 season ended was another factor that loomed over the process.
“Honestly, I didn’t know if that was going to be a big factor in the Dodgers’ decision on wanting me be back, or any other team for that matter,” said Turner who was removed from World Series Game 6 after testing positive for the coronavirus. “So going into the process, it was definitely a big question mark, a big unknown as to how people were going to perceive that and how people were going to pursue me. But once I got into conversations, not only with the Dodgers, but other teams and cleared the air on that stuff it all kind of just started moving forward and building momentum.”
Turner sparked controversy by returning to the field for the post-game celebration. An investigation by MLB did not result in any discipline for Turner or the Dodgers and Turner apologized, explaining his behavior in a statement released in November.
“It was extremely difficult. I think I experienced just about every range of emotion that you can possibly have,” Turner said. “Obviously, getting taken out of the game, trying to figure out what what was happening, winning the World Series, being excited, being thrilled seeing Julio (Urias) get that last out — you finally accomplished your goal. But then, for me, sitting back in that room and watching the guys dogpile — personally I felt like it was the third time I had to sit and watch a team celebrate winning a World Series.
“That was tough, and that’s something that is on the top of my list. I still have not been able to be on the field for the last out to celebrate a championship. That’s something I’m determined to show up and work for every day and and have that experience at the end of this year.”
The biggest obstacle to a repeat championship for the Dodgers and Turner appears to be the San Diego Padres. Turner said it was “exciting” to watch the Padres’ aggressive offseason moves.
“I think it’s good for the game of baseball. They’re going out and being aggressive and going for it. It’s good to see teams doing that,” Turner said. “And I think the way I look at it, now that I’m back here with the Dodgers, is we’re going to get 19 World Series games (during the regular season) this year. So it’ll be a good test for us a good preparation to get ready for the playoffs.”
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