Mets Showing Interest In Justin Turner

The Mets have been engaged with representatives at no cost agent nook infielder Justin Turner, reports Mike Puma of the New York Post. They be part of the Diamondbacks and incumbent Crimson Sox among the many groups identified to be within the combine for the 39-year-old.

Turner spent three and a half seasons in Queens over a decade in the past. On the time, he appeared like a flexible however unexceptional infielder. After hitting .265/.326/.370 as a Met, Turner caught on with the Dodgers for the 2014 marketing campaign. That change of surroundings and an overhauled swing launched Turner to stardom. He raked at a .296/.375/.490 clip in 9 seasons with Los Angeles earlier than signing with Boston an offseason in the past.

Regardless of his age, Turner stays an excellent hitter. In 626 plate appearances, he hit .276/.345/.455 with 23 house runs. Turner saved his strikeout proportion to a modest 17.6% clip with stable energy and plate self-discipline. The righty-hitting Turner had dramatic platoon splits final season, significantly from a slugging perspective, however he historically fares as nicely or higher in opposition to same-handed pitching.

Whereas Turner hasn’t proven many indicators of decline within the batter’s field, his defensive duties have waned. In his closing season as a Dodger, he spent an equal period of time at third base and designated hitter. Turner didn’t see a lot defensive work in Boston, beginning 98 occasions at DH. He manned the new nook on seven events, picked up 4 begins at second, and opened 35 contests at first base. That’s partially as a result of the Sox have Rafael Devers and Triston Casas on the infield corners. But it’s additionally a query how heavy a defensive workload Turner can deal with at this stage of his profession.

That shouldn’t be a priority for the Mets. Turner wouldn’t see a lot first base motion barring an damage to Pete Alonso. New York doesn’t have confirmed options at third base or DH, nonetheless. Younger hitters Brett Baty and Mark Vientos challenge because the respective starters. Each are previously well-regarded prospects, but neither has produced on the huge league stage up to now.

President of baseball operations David Stearns mentioned on the Winter Conferences that the Mets weren’t looking for a 3rd baseman. That preceded an unlucky ACL tear for younger infielder Ronny Mauricio, who’d appeared a powerful candidate for the third base job earlier than his winter ball damage. Whether or not that adjustments the calculus for Stearns and the entrance workplace isn’t clear, though Turner may match at DH even when the Mets wished to provide Baty the new nook.

MLBTR predicted a one-year, $16MM contract for Turner. The Mets have made clear their main focus is the 2025 marketing campaign, however they’re not ready to concede the ’24 season. There’s a necessity for at the least one middle-of-the-order offensive presence along with the rotation questions which were the group’s focus to this point.