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MLB Free Agency: Best Fits for Justin Turner

By Jason Reed

May 7, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner (10) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports
May 7, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner (10) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals are looking to push back into the postseason in 2017, and a Justin Turner acquisition would provide just that. Rumor has it that the Cardinals are showing interest in Turner to take over the hot corner from Jhonny Peralta. This of course would signal the move of Peralta, likely for farm talent or a back-end of the rotation arm. Signing Turner could accomplish two things at once. St. Louis would be getting a considerable defensive upgrade along with the offensive upgrade, and can further help another area of need.

Turner has been very successful in his career batting at Busch Stadium as well. In St. Louis, Turner is a lifetime .310 batter. The only parks that he has a better batting average at with more than forty at bats is Chase Field (.323) and Coors Field (.361). Those numbers of course are against a quality Cardinals staff over the last seven years, so when he is facing less quality of pitching his numbers likely would rise. Surrounded by excellence around him, St. Louis may be the best place to go if Turner wants to have the statistically best year of his career.

Sparking a trade sending away Jhonny Peralta would be very beneficial to the Redbirds as well. While likely they would only receive mid-level minor league talent, there is still potential. A team in need of a DH, such as the Baltimore Orioles, potentially may offer a back-end rotation piece in return for Peralta’s service. Turner then would supply a ripple effect in St. Louis that very well could propel them to challenge the Cubs atop the division.

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