Justin Turner Joins the Toronto Blue Jays
Veteran First Baseman Signs One-Year, $13 Million Deal
Toronto, Ontario
The Toronto Blue Jays have added veteran first baseman Justin Turner to their lineup, signing him to a one-year, $13 million contract on Tuesday. Turner, 39, has played 15 seasons in the MLB, most recently with the Boston Red Sox.
Turner is a two-time All-Star and a Silver Slugger winner. He has a career batting average of .289 with 220 home runs and 818 RBI. In 2022, he hit 23 homers and drove in 96 runs for the Red Sox.
"Justin is a proven leader and a valuable addition to our team," said Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins. "He brings a wealth of experience and a strong bat to our lineup."Turner is expected to play first base and DH for the Blue Jays. He will join a lineup that includes Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and George Springer.
The Blue Jays are hoping that Turner can help them return to the playoffs after missing out in 2022. They finished 92-70 last season, but lost to the Seattle Mariners in the Wild Card Game.
Trade Details
The Blue Jays acquired Turner from the Mariners in a trade that sent infielder Kevin Padlo to Seattle. Padlo, 26, is a former first-round pick who has played in 46 games in the MLB.
The Mariners were sellers at the trade deadline, and Turner was one of their most valuable assets. He was hitting .279 with 11 home runs and 52 RBI at the time of the trade.
The Blue Jays are hoping that Turner can provide them with the same kind of production that he did for the Red Sox in 2022. If he can, he could help the Blue Jays make a run at the playoffs in 2023.
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