The Chicago Cubs and Justin Turner have agreed to a one-year, $6 million contract

Chicago Cubs' president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer, managed to bring in a group of players with extensive playoff experience as he built his roster for the upcoming season. Justin Turner will be the next member to join.

On Tuesday, sources revealed to MLB.com that Turner had struck a one-year deal with the Cubs worth $6 million, plus a $2.5 million incentive bonus. After the North Division team lost a bid for free agent third baseman Alex Bregman, management quickly adjusted its goals and locked in the veteran Turner to bolster bench depth.

While the Cubs have yet to officially confirm the deal (medical still needs to be passed), players in the locker room have already expressed their excitement about the new addition.

"He's been a very good player for a long time," said Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson. "He's a guy we can learn a lot from him, especially from his experience. He is very professional in his field. I think it's going to have a very big impact on our team. ”

The arrival of the 40-year-old Turner will help the Cubs' lineup in multiple ways.

Turner can be used as a right-hand addition to left-hitter Michael Busch at first base, which has been the veteran's main position for the past two years. Chicago had previously lacked a real replacement for Bouche and planned to give versatile Jon Berti some of the work in the position.

With his extensive experience at third base, Turner can also help rookie Matt Shaw (No. 19 on the MLB Top 100 Rookie List) as part of the safety of third base (along with Bertie). Shaw is the number one contender for the spot, and he could also turn to Turner for advice in his bid to win the spot and get ready for his rookie season in MLB.

"At any given time, you can count on players who have achieved a lot in the game," said Ian Happ, a Cubs outfielder, "and have been through all sorts of things, which is a huge asset." Not only can Shaw talk to Nico Hoerner and Dansby about his youthful upbringing and what it takes, but he can also ask for advice from players like Turner, who has reinvented himself, played long games and achieved success at the highest level. ”

As Harp said, Turner made his major league debut with the Orioles in 2009 and hit a 0.684 OPS and 92 OPS+ in the first five years of the Orioles and Mets. After joining the Dodgers in 2014, he transitioned into a top-tier offensive threat, hitting a 0.296 batting average, 0.865 OPS, and 133 OPS+ in nine years in Los Angeles.

During his time with the Dodgers, Turner was a two-time All-Star, received MVP votes for three years, and won the Clement Award (2022). Turner also played in 86 playoff games, including three World Series games, and won one championship (2020). On the October stage, he batted out 0.270/0.370/0.460 from 368 batting outs, hitting 13 home runs, 19 second base hits and 42 RBIs.

Turner will join World Series champion Kyle Tucker (2022 Astros), Ryan Pressly (2022 Astros) and Ryan Brasier (2018 Red Sox and 2024 Dodgers) as new members of the Cubs this season. Swanson believes it's no coincidence that management brings in players with a lot of playoff experience.

"I wouldn't be surprised if it was intentional," Swanson said. "The more people like that you bring in, the better it will be because they understand what needs to be paid. They understand the importance of every moment. And when you bring together people who love to win, how they change the culture, it's very special. ”

Turner will no longer use third base as his primary defensive position in 2023 against the Boston Red Sox and will serve primarily as first base and designated batter in 2024 against the Blue Jays and Mariners. Last season, he batted a 0.259/0.354/0.383 batting average in 139 games and finished with an OPS+ of 114, hitting 11 home runs, 24 second run nets and 55 RBIs.

With Tucker joining the team and locking in the main right fielder position, the Cubs' designated striking role will be primarily filled by Seiya Suzuki. Turner should be able to look for opportunities between first base, third base and designated strikes, while also being available as a substitute in key moments.

"I'm very excited, I'm very excited," Harp said. "I've been a fan of him for a long time and love the way he plays. He is a natural batsman. Not only does he have the ability to hit long shots, but he can also hit hitters when it matters most. The way he swings, the way he thinks about hitting the ball, all of those things I think are going to be our assets. ”