Last offseason, the Brewers offered free agent Justin Turner a multiyear contract. He ended up turning it down and returning to the Dodgers on a two-year deal with an option for the 2023 season. The Dodgers have elected to turn down the $16M option, making Turner a free agent for the second consecutive offseason. That begs the question, will the Brewers pursue him again this offseason?
Last offseason, reports revealed that talks got very serious between Turner and the Brewers. In fact, Turner even referenced David Stearns by the nickname “Stearnsie.” Of course Matt Arnold is now in charge of baseball operations in Milwaukee, but it was reported last year that Mark Attanasio also had a strong interest in acquiring Turner.
Why would the Brewers want to pursue Justin Turner this offseason?
Turner, a third basemen, could be an upgrade over Luis Urias. Prior to Kolten Wong’s 2023 option being exercised, it was thought that Urias could slide over to second base and split time with prospect Brice Turang. However, with Wong returning and Urias coming off a down season, perhaps adding a veteran such as Turner makes sense.
The 37-year-old Turner struggled mightily in the first half of the 2022 season, but he still ended up posting solid numbers. Overall, he slashed .278/.350/.438/.788 with 36 doubles, 13 home runs and 81 RBI. His 36 doubles are a career high.
In order to pry Turner away from re-signing with the Dodgers, the Brewers will likely have to offer him another multiyear deal. The Athletic's Keith Law predicted that Turner will have an AAV in the $10M-$12M range. Given his age, a 2024 option should also be considered if he is offered a multiyear contract.
It will be interesting to see if the Brewer are active in the Turner market or not this offseason. Despite his age, he has remained productive and always seems to come through in the postseason. This makes him an intriguing option for the Crew to consider.
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