MLB rumors: 3 teams that could steal Justin Turner from Dodgers

The Braves let Josh Donaldson leave during the last offseason for the Minnesota Twins, and they didn’t find a suitable replacement last year. Austin Riley had the pop, but he didn’t have the bat control, defense, or veteran moxie that Donaldson had. Saying that not replacing him was the main reason they blew that NLCS lead to Turner and the Dodgers would be hyperbolic, but it was clear that not having him in the lineup hurt. Ronald Acuna and Freddie Freeman might need another co-star if Marcell Ozuna also decides to leave, and Turner would be an ideal replacement for Brian Snitker and the Braves.

Riley is a solid MLB player, as his power at third base will guarantee him a nice career, However, he is far from a sure thing right now, as his career -0.6 WAR and 86 OPS+ show that he still has a long way to go when it comes to buffing out the kinks in his game. Turner is a move that a win-now team like Atlanta needs to make, as the NL East is becoming more wide open by the day given the new Mets ownership, still dangerous Phillies, and motivated Nationals. Even if Turner doesn’t crack .300, he’ll be good for a few clutch home runs.