Justin Turner announces he’s returning to the Dodgers

After garnering interest from the Milwaukee Brewers, third baseman Justin Turner announces he’s returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

With Spring Training just around the corner, the Los Angeles Dodgers, as were many teams, began to ramp up their activities in free agency. After signing top pitcher Trevor Bauer to a three-year deal, the Dodgers retained a key piece to their core.

On Saturday, third baseman Justin Turner announced that he is returning to the Dodgers for the 2021 season. The deal is for two years and worth over $30 million, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Turner returning for two more years in LA

The signing arrived over a day after a report indicating that the Dodgers had some competition to re-sign Turner. According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, the Milwaukee Brewers offered a multi-year contract to Turner, as did the Dodgers. Other teams who have expressed interest were the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves.

But it was Los Angeles who got the veteran third baseman to put pen to paper.

In 42 games this past season, Turner slashed .307/.400/.460 while recording four home runs, 46 hits, 26 runs scored and 23 RBI. Turner played in 18 postseason games with the Dodgers, where he recorded a .250 batting average and .804 OPS along with three home runs and six RBI.

When thinking about it, why wouldn’t Turner re-up with the Dodgers? He gets to be their everyday third baseman, be a part of one of the more dangerous batting orders in the league and provide run support for a starting rotation consisting of Bauer, Clayton Kerhshaw, Walker Buehler, David Price and Julio Urias? Oh, and they stand a good chance of running it back as World Series champions. How could we forget that?

It’s official, Dodgers fans — Turner will take part in his eighth season with the team.