Blue Jays Sign Veteran Major Leaguer Justin Turner For 2024 Season: Report | CBC Sports

MLB

The Toronto Blue Jays have added some much-needed pop to their lineup by agreeing to terms with designated hitter Justin Turner on a one-year contract, a baseball source confirmed Tuesday.

2020 World Series champion had 23 homers, 96 RBI last season with Red SoxGregory Strong · The Canadian Press

· Posted: Jan 30, 2024 10:44 AM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

A source confirmed to The Canadian Press that former Red Sox DH and third baseman Justin Turner has agreed to a one-year contract with the Blue Jays. (Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports via Reuters/File)The Toronto Blue Jays have added some much-needed pop to their lineup by agreeing to terms with designated hitter Justin Turner on a one-year contract, a baseball source confirmed Tuesday.

The 39-year-old Turner, who hit .276 with 23 homers and 96 runs batted in last season for the Boston Red Sox, would fill a void at DH in Toronto after the departure of Brandon Belt to free agency.

The Blue Jays have yet to confirm the agreement, which is expected to be worth $13 million US with an additional $1.5 million in potential bonuses.

Turner is a proven playoff performer who will likely slot into the heart of the Toronto batting order, which struggled at times last year. He served as DH for most of last season but also spent some time in the infield, mostly at first base.

Over his 15-year career with the Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets, Turner has a .288 average with a .363 on-base percentage and .465 slugging percentage.

He reached the playoffs in nine straight years (2014-22) with the Dodgers. Turner was named a co-winner of the National League Championship Series MVP award in 2017 and won a World Series in 2020.

Would expect Justin Turner to be the Jays’ primary DH in 2024, with additional starts at 1B and 3B, based on what I’ve been told. https://t.co/bpErqv4OU1

—@jonmorosiIt has been a rather quiet off-season for the Blue Jays, who were swept in the wild-card round for the second straight year and haven’t won a playoff game since 2016.

Toronto re-signed centre-fielder Kevin Kiermaier to a one-year, $10.5-million deal last month and inked infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa to a two-year pact worth $15 million.

There were reports this month that Cuban pitcher Yariel Rodriguez had agreed to a four-year deal but the club has not confirmed the signing.

Turner declined his $13.4-million player option with the Red Sox and received a $6.7-million buyout instead.

The Blue Jays will open spring training Feb. 15 when pitchers and catchers report in Dunedin, Fla. The first full-squad workout is Feb. 20, four days before the team’s pre-season opener against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Toronto will begin the regular season March 28 at Tampa Bay.

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