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Justin Turner is “atop [the Diamondbacks’] want checklist” this offseason, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale writes. It isn’t any shock that the D’Backs can be in pursuit of Turner, because the workforce additionally had interest within the veteran infielder final winter, and Turner’s inventory is kind of excessive after a profitable 12 months with the Purple Sox.
Turner hit .276/.345/.455 with 23 homers over 626 plate appearances with Boston final season, as he hasn’t proven a lot signal of decline although he turns 39 later this month. He’s again on the free agent market after declining his player option to stay with the Sox, and appears prone to land one other multi-year contract even at his superior age. Something past two assured years is perhaps a little bit of a attain, nevertheless, which maybe retains Turner inside the Diamondbacks’ value vary.
A number of contenders or would-be contenders are prone to test in on Turner this winter, so the reigning NL champion D’Backs received’t be alone of their pursuit. Taking part in in Phoenix would additionally deliver Turner a bit nearer to his house in Southern California, and if Turner had designs on being a daily third baseman once more, the Diamondbacks have a gap on the sizzling nook since Evan Longoria can also be a free agent. Turner would in all probability be within the lineup most on daily basis as both a 3rd baseman, designated hitter, or occasional first baseman if Christian Walker is at DH or getting a relaxation day. When Turner isn’t at third base, Gerardo Perdomo or Emmanuel Rivera can be readily available to man the place.
Signing Turner would additionally add a right-handed bat to Arizona’s lineup, and GM Mike Hazen advised reporters (together with The Athletic’s Evan Drellich and Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic) that retaining the lineup balanced is “in all probability going to be an space that we’re going to wish to deal with once more.” Free brokers Longoria, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and Tommy Pham all hit from the appropriate facet, leaving the Snakes somewhat heavy on lefty swingers and switch-hitters. Prime prospect Jordan Lawlar is a right-handed hitter who is predicted to get a bigger position after making his MLB debut in 2023, although putting in Lawlar because the on a regular basis shortstop is perhaps somewhat daring, and it is perhaps depending on how the D’Backs handle the third base scenario.
Past one other hitter or two, Hazen careworn that his workforce might be wanting so as to add some skilled rotation assist. Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly have been the cornerstones of an in any other case subpar rotation, as a lot of the youthful arms had some rising pains, veteran Zach Davies was injured and principally ineffective, and Madison Bumgarner was launched fully after continued struggles.
Rookie Brandon Pfaadt established himself in the course of the playoffs, so he’ll be penciled into one spot together with Gallen and Kelly. That leaves room for one more seasoned pitcher inside the rotation’s high 4, and Hazen felt the Snakes have been merely missing on this division in the course of the postseason, most notably of their now-infamous bullpen recreation in Recreation 4 of the World Collection.
“Having veterans in that rotation matter. I feel you appeared throughout the aisle right here on this collection and [the Rangers] had extra veteran beginning pitchers than we did,” Hazen mentioned.
To this finish, Hazen had some regrets over not already addressing this want final summer season. The final supervisor mentioned he “chased each beginning pitcher within the free market” on the deadline, and famous that groups usually requested for Pfaadt and Alek Thomas in commerce calls for. Whereas Hazen had no intention of shifting both of these gamers, “have been there different avenues that we may have pushed, by including extra prospects within the offers the place it didn’t embrace these guys? The place I ought to have gone down that route? I don’t know. I don’t know the reply to these issues. However I do know I didn’t get a beginning pitcher. And that’s on me.”
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