Third baseman Justin Turner has turned himself from a replaceable utility player to a coveted third baseman in MLB free agency.
Heading into this off-season, Justin Turner may be the most sought after infielder in MLB free agency. Turner, who batted .275 with 27 home runs and 90 runs batted in provides an all-around asset. His great hitting blends well with his Gold Glove caliber defense. The third baseman, who owns a .357 postseason batting average, turned his career around. In 2014, the Dodgers signed Turner to a minor league contract. As he started filling in for Juan Uribe, and eventually replacing him, Turner proved his worth at the big league level. Now, the red-haired third baseman will reap the benefits with a lucrative contract.
Despite all of this, Turner still flies under the radar in terms of popularity. Despite finishing ninth in MVP voting, Turner has never been an all-star. His only ever accolade was being Rookie of the Month in May 2011. Despite having a .296 average, 50 home runs, and 193 runs batted in the last three years Turner has often been snubbed of any and all accolades. In fact, Turner owns the sixth best Wins Above Replacement for third basemen in the last two seasons; fifth this season alone. For whatever reason, Turner flies under the radar of many as one of the elite players in the game.
Regardless of whether or not Turner has been acknowledged in the past does not take away from his value to any MLB club. The third baseman can and will provide as a great middle of the line-up bat that can thrive offensively and defensively. With Turner in the midst of his prime many teams will be attempting to bring him in. Out of all of these teams only a select few are a good fit.