Veteran first baseman Justin Turner took exception to his omission from a list of the best free agents at the position still available.
ESPN's Jeff Passan reeled off the first basemen who have recently agreed to contracts and cited the notable players who haven't yet signed. That group was limited to Pete Alonso, Anthony Rizzo, Josh Bell and Ty France, with Passan including LaMonte Wade Jr. and Nathaniel Lowe as trade candidates.
Turner thought a certain somebody was missing:
Based on his 2024 production, the two-time All-Star has grounds to feel a bit aggrieved. He performed particularly well after getting traded to the Seattle Mariners, hitting five home runs and posting a 128 OPS+ in 48 games, per Baseball Reference.
Turner has been a consistent producer at the plate deep into his 30s. Over the last three seasons, he has a .271/.349/.427 slash line along with a 116 OPS+.
Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter ranked him as the No. 58 overall free agent coming into the offseason.
More than anything, Passan's post likely reflects the general belief about Turner's usage in 2025. The 40-year-old has logged just 123 career appearances at first base. He spent the bulk of his career at the hot corner, and prospective suitors could view him as more of a designated hitter than an everyday infielder at this stage of his career.
The fact he remains unsigned points to the suggestion Turner's services aren't in high demand right now.
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