Justin Turner Announces MLB Retirement Decision After 17th Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Nov 10, 2025 2:52 PM ET

Justin Turner is entering free agency for a third straight year after the Chicago Cubs declined their end of a mutual option. The 40-year-old veteran infielder just completed his 17th MLB season, with the Cubs marking the seventh organization he has suited up for.

Turner’s offensive impact has continued to decline as he reaches the latter stages of his career. Over 80 appearances for Chicago, he posted a .219 batting average, .288 on-base percentage, .602 OPS, three home runs and 18 RBIs.

Despite the diminished production, Turner’s veteran presence proved valuable as the Cubs snapped their four-year postseason drought and returned to the MLB playoffs in 2025.

Chicago Cubs first baseman Justin Turner (3).Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

As Turner enters the free agent market once again, speculation has grown about whether he has played his final game in the big leagues.

With his lowest offensive output in nearly a decade, that seemed possible, but Turner informed his agent, Greg Genske, on Monday that he intends to continue playing and pursue an 18th MLB season, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.

Free agent Justin Turner plans to play in 2026, according to his agent, Greg Genske.

Turner, who turns 41 month, posted a .759 OPS against left-handed pitching for the Cubs this year.@MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 10, 2025

Turner still found success in favorable platoon matchups last season. As a right-handed hitter, he performed well against left-handed pitching, posting a .276 batting average, .330 on-base percentage, .759 OPS and all three of his home runs.

On the surface, it may seem surprising that Turner could land another contract, but his clubhouse leadership and ability to contribute off the bench against lefties suggest he may still have a role on a short-term deal.

Turner is best known for his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he helped lead the team on multiple deep postseason runs and became a fan favorite. He earned two All-Star selections and finished in the top 10 of NL MVP voting twice during his nine-year tenure in Los Angeles. He helped the Dodgers secure the 2020 World Series title and was the 2017 NLCS MVP.

Turner's MLB debut came in 2009 with the Baltimore Orioles, marking the start of a long and respected career.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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