Dodgers Team News

Dodgers: Justin Turner Slams Media for Early Trade Rumors, Heyman Claps Back

In somewhat unexpected (but understandable) news, Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner took to Twitter on Saturday to air out some grievances over the way a baseball transaction is handled in the modern age, particularly by “MLB insiders” in the media.

Here JT questions the motives of reporters and the perception of whoever is first is king.

So this is really one of those “rock and a hard place” situations. First, Turner is right — at least when considering the players and their families when rumors drop. But on the other side of the coin, these reporters are merely doing their jobs. And — sometimes unfortunately — being first is key to feeding your own family well, at least for these networked-in reporters

One MLB insider responded to Turner’s tweet.

Jon Heyman has been knee-deep in just about every major rumor this off-season. And relatively often — along with ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic — he’s been right. Now while Heyman may not be responding directly to Turner’s point in this tweet, he’s still defending the work on himself and his peers.

In short, Heyman is saying he and his people were accurate in their reporting and that this three-team blockbuster trade would already be done, thus mitigating the stress of the players and families, if it weren’t for the Boston Red Sox and chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom.

While that may be all good and true, again, it is not the point Justin Turner is trying to make. And Turner let Heyman know.

Once again, JT is right. It is terribly unfair for players and families to find out about trades from social media and not their organization. Still the unfortunate fact remains… this is what media has become in 2020. Gone is the once-a-day newspaper. It’s the future now and with so much information available at your fingertips, the masses want it all and they want it now.

But is that fair to the players involved?

Absolutely not.

Should Heyman have responded to Turner’s frustrations?

Absolutely not. 

Am I defending the media (as a media type here)?

Oh hell no.

Like sands through the hourglass…

NEXT: Beaty Talks Trade Rumors for Players and Families

Clint Pasillas

Clint Pasillas has been writing, blogging, and podcasting about the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2008. Under Clint's leadership as the Lead Editor, Dodgers Nation has grown into one of the most read baseball sites in the world with millions of unique visitors per month. Find him online on Twitter/X or his YouTube channel!

27 Comments

  1. We’ll never really know actually since the senate decided they didn’t want to hear from witnesses. If that’s not an admission of guilt I don’t know what Is. they put party over country and regardless of your party Americans need to realize and admit that

    1. You are very selective in what you say. Witnesses were heard. The House heard many witnesses and not one of them implicated Trump in anything wrong. Schiff decided NOT to subpoena Bolton in the House. He said they had convincing testimony for a conviction and did not need Bolton’s testimony. Why does one need more witnesses when convincing testimony for a conviction is already available? You should know some of the facts before you start spouting off.

      1. Blue Duck if I recall you were a crying snowflake on the dodger.com days I feel like you should be agreeing Harry here unless you’ve finally gotten a brain

      2. Dear, It’s called a fair trial. Everyone gets to call witnesses. With this delusion of yours, you should hope as a citizen of this country that you never find yourself on trial. Alternative facts like you parrot here will get you life in prison. Stick to baseball honey.

        1. Ha that’s rich seeing you say alternative facts, the phrase trumpers like Kellyanne CONway made up for themselves not democrats

        2. BlueDuck where do you get that I’m a democrat? I was literally complimenting you for coming to your senses and joining the right side for the sake of this country. You loved to snowflake it up in the old days while going on a adolescent tirade

    2. Suppression of evidence is strong evidence of guilt. What are people afraid of? If there is nothing to support claims, let that be shown. Covering up things is an admission of wrongdoing.

  2. lying treasonous predators named Zorg aside….from the top down we now live in a society in which the do harm the deny-deny-deny is just fine because those harmed are defenseless to dispute or defend. Players are in same boat unless they are “franchise” players, see NBA for examples.

    And yes once the offer sheets have been signed parties involved shouldn’t be allowed to make at best specious claims to meet agreement potential out clauses. The initial argument was “we wanted an SP not an RP” then “ummm, we meant he has medical issues that our concierge ‘dr’ isn’t happy with…he was in between writing designed PED rx’s so he is our guy”. In reality this is a clear case of rookie GM doing what ownership wanted but apparently doing it wrong. Where is good old Bowie Khun & Charlie Finley when needed.

    This sort of situation is what kills fan interest. Baseball is no longer a game where integrity matters to show young fans how to always play hard but honestly.

    Higher McMann (or whatever his stage last nam is) from WWF to get the party started for real.

    And to JT, sorry man but I’m out on MLB. Too many of things like this in past couple decades.

    1. You are aware that sports leagues can all legally be scripted and rigged whenever they choose right? It’s classified as entertainment they can do what they want with it.

  3. How the press treats baseball and how they deal with Trump and Republicans in general are two different things. In baseball, they just want to be first to report a story. In anything involving politics or ideologies the press is predominately a left wing tool of the Democratic party, that will lie, cheat, and steal to promote their left wing agenda. They have a visceral hatred for Trump, and will do anything to undermine him. Fortunately, reality and results favor Trump. So he just keeps beating them, over, and over again. The Dodgers may not win a WS in 2020, but Trump will win reelection.

    1. Those ideologies like affordable healthcare and caring about destroying the planet any further, how terrible. Oh but I forgot you guys are still paranoid about communism like it’s the 50’s. Same scare tactics were used back then

      1. R.J.Rummel’s book Death By Government (1994) stated about 110 million people were killed by communist democide from 1900 to 1987. You are foolish to dismiss communism as of no concern. The first thing commies want to do is take peoples means of protection,guns, from them. It is then much easier to control the populace. As far as health care I believe you know who lied about keeping your doctor and your health insurance.

        1. Conveniently skip over the environment as predicted. Also what are you talking about regarding healthcare? No one took away our doctors and healthcare I’m assuming you’re talking about Obama because you’re so misinformed on everything. Trump hasn’t done anything regarding that btw

  4. JT’s anger is understandable, but misdirected. He should be angry with whatever front office leaked the story to the press!

    1. Exactly, reporters can’t report trades unless someone leaks the information, someone involved in the negotiations.

  5. Well the deadline passed. The shtshow continues the Dodgers just can’t make a big deal even when they do it right

      1. The Dodgers are just a sh*t show even when it’s not their fault. Something always stands in their way of getting a big deal done

  6. Turner is spot on! Sports journalists are obsessed with being the first to report; whether they are correct or incorrect doesn’t matter as fans have short memories and are ready to move on to the next gossip column. Long gone are commitments to the “Journalist Creed” that “… clear statement, accuracy and fairness are fundamental to good journalism.” I think Heyman, Rosenthal, Passan, et al must beware that unethical organizations may “plant” stories in order to test the waters of fans and pundits before finalizing a transaction, knowing that the “journalists” will jump at the opportunity to. be first at the sacrifice of accuracy.

  7. The media trumps up rumors all off season. Then when the rumored deal doesn’t happen many of you fans get upset with the team for not doing a trade they were never in on! Freedom of speech needs to be combined with responsibilty. Families, fans, players and teams ALL get hurt while media types(yeah, you too) keep spinning out more and more and people keep believing whatever they read ( it must be true, it’s on the internet).

  8. Well obviously the leak came from the dodgers. Why else would boston leak the Dodgers to Angel’s trade. Friedman was looking for a little love from the fans. Guess that plan didnt work out.

  9. People seem to only care about politics being injected into the baseball comment section if it’s opposing their own views. As you can see no one cared about Chris originally starting the politics because they agreed

  10. Yes. WTH….Baseball is what unites us all despite Race, or Religious or Political Beliefs… I have personally lost some close “Dodger Friends” when it was found out my personal views were 180 from theirs….so this is NOT THE PLACE TO TALK POLITICS….

    AND FRSCO STILL SOOKS

  11. Let me just say that Justin Turner is my favorite Dodger. But in this case he’s not entirely correct. Reporters are paid to break stories not to follow up from press releases from the ball clubs. I understand Justin wanting to support his teammates since he is the leader of the team. But I believe the ball players know (or should understand)when they sign contracts there is a chance that they could be traded or they might be part of the rumor mill. Unfortunately, to some extent it comes with the territory. Hot stove is what keeps fans interested in baseball and in teams during the winter months.

  12. Boohoo, Turner. I hate to defend the media, but they are just doing their job. This wasn’t some made up rumor where someone was trying to make a name for themselves, it was completely true and came from someone at one of the teams involved. Direct your whining at whichever team official leaked the info. Like it or now you get paid those millions partly because all that reporting ups the popularity of the sport. Want a quiet, life? Go buy a ranch.

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