Dodgers’ Former All-Star Announces Retirement Decision After Team Exit

The Los Angeles Dodgers have firmly established themselves as a Major League Baseball dynasty, securing three championships in the last five years with back-to-back World Series victories. This remarkable run, however, was propelled by several key players who have since moved on to new teams.

Of all the players on the Dodgers’ latest championship roster, only a handful— including Clayton Kershaw, Mookie Betts, Kiké Hernández, Will Smith, and Max Muncy — were also part of the 2020 championship team. Several pivotal contributors from that pandemic-shortened season have taken their talents elsewhere.

Cody Bellinger recently completed a resurgent campaign with the New York Yankees, while Corey Seager went on to win a World Series championship with the Texas Rangers. Justin Turner, who led the Dodgers in slugging percentage during the 2020 World Series, has experienced quite a journey since leaving Los Angeles.

After nine seasons with the Dodgers— which included two All-Star selections and three years receiving Most Valuable Player Award votes — Turner moved on to play for the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and Seattle Mariners. This past season, at age 40, he suited up for the Chicago Cubs in a challenging campaign that highlighted a noticeable decline in his offensive production.

Turner’s 2023 stats reflected these struggles, as he slashed only .219/.288/.314 — his lowest marks since becoming an everyday MLB player in 2011. Following the season’s end, he entered free agency once again.

While such a down year might have led many players to consider retirement, Turner has announced his intention to continue playing. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported on X (formerly Twitter) that “Free agent Justin Turner plans to play in 2026.” Despite posting a .759 OPS against left-handed pitching this past season, Turner’s prospects for more than a modest one-year deal appear slim given his recent regression.

Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors echoed this sentiment, stating, “Based on Turner’s age and last year’s lack of production, anything more than a modest one-year deal seems unreasonable. Turner’s one-year deal with the Cubs paid him a guaranteed $6 million, and he’ll almost certainly need to take a pay cut on that sum.”

Although Justin Turner may no longer be the All-Star hitter he once was, Dodgers fans will fondly remember his valuable experience and contributions during the early years of their championship dynasty.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/finance/dodgers-former-all-star-announces-retirement-decision-after-team-exit/

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