Justin Turner’s 2014 Season An Outlier?
Team Control
What I find odd about the calls for Turner to be extended is the fact that he’s under club control for two more years. This is only Turner’s fourth year of major league service time.
He’s not going anywhere, so there should be no pressure to get a deal done. Just wait until the winter, make him a fair offer above his current salary and let him come back for well below market value.
Clubhouse Presence
By all accounts, Turner is a great presence in the clubhouse. He’s a friendly guy who gets along with everyone. And while statistics are used to evaluate performance, one shouldn’t ignore the human qualities of a ballplayer.
Turner is the type of guy you like having on a team because everyone around him, from the fans to the players to the coaches, is happy to watch him play.
What Should Be Done?
If Colletti has proven one thing, it’s that he can find diamonds in the rough. Picking up valuable bench pieces sure isn’t easy, and he hasn’t been perfect in roster construction, but every once in a while he’ll pull a rabbit out of a hat. That certainly happened this year with Turner.
While his 2014 campaign may not be repeatable, Turner has shown that he can be a valuable contributor off the bench and that’s exactly how the Dodgers should view him. He provides depth and a great presence in the clubhouse, which should keep him with the club for the foreseeable future.