The Toronto Blue Jays and Justin Turner have agreed to a one-year deal worth $13 million, the team announced Tuesday.
Turner can make an additional $1.5 million in bonuses, according to multiple reports.
The Blue Jays had been linked with high-profile free agents and potential trade targets earlier this offseason but instead have added multiple veterans on one-year deals. Toronto also brought back outfielder Kevin Kiermaier and added utility infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa last month.
Turner, 39, batted .276 with 23 home runs and a career-high 96 RBIs last season with the Boston Red Sox. The two-time All-Star had spent his previous nine seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Toronto hopes Turner will bolster a lineup that struggled to support stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette with consistent production. The Blue Jays were 11th in the majors in OPS (.745), 14th in runs scored (746), 16th in home runs (188) and 13th in slugging percentage (.417) last season
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Turner figures to be Toronto’s primary designated hitter but also can serve as a backup to Guerrero at first base. He was a designated hitter 98 times last year and appeared 41 times in the infield.
“Justin Turner has proven himself not only as an exceptional player on the field, but also an exemplary leader in the clubhouse,” Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said in a news release. “Justin’s history of delivering in big moments and his consistent pursuit of winning are admirable traits.”
A World Series champion with the Dodgers in 2020, Turner is a career .288 hitter with 187
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