The Cubs cut ties with veteran Justin Turner, but a reunion on a cheaper deal could be a possibility for his clubhouse leadership.
The Chicago Cubs have been busy in recent days. They declined Shota Imanaga’s three-year, $57 million deal, traded Andrew Kittredge to the Baltimore Orioles for cash considerations, and extended Colin Rea for $6.5 million.
The final decision that the front office had to make before free agency officially opened was whether to bring back Justin Turner. Turner had a $10 million mutual option for the 2026 season, which means both the Cubs and Turner would have to agree to those contract terms.
Unsurprisingly, the Cubs declined their end of the mutual option.
The front office was never going to pay $10 million for a bench player. Although Turner was widely regarded as a leader and a joy to have around the clubhouse, the $10 million contract for the 2026 season was just too much.
Since the North Siders declined this mutual option, a $2 million buyout will be awarded to Turner. This move effectively ends his Cubs tenure, and the soon-to-be 41-year-old will now enter free agency.
Turner signed with the Cubs last February to give them a veteran right-handed bat off the bench. However, the two-time All-Star wasn’t really a factor at the plate throughout the 2025 season. He hit just .219 with three home runs, seven doubles, and 18 RBI across 80 games.
There’s no doubt that Turner wasn’t a useful bat off the bench. He finished with the second-worst WAR (-0.1) of his career and only had two postseason plate appearances (Game 2 of the National League Division Series).
However, what Turner brought to the clubhouse was more impactful than anything he did on the field. The 17-year veteran was often seen giving advice to many of the young players on the team.
He was seen giving hitting tips to Pete Crow-Armstrong before an important playoff game and was also there for Matt Shaw when the rookie third baseman was pulled early from a game. It’s moments like these that we will always remember Turner’s tenure in the Windy City.
Now, the Cubs could absolutely bring him back for the 2026 season. They could still be looking for a right-handed bat to back up Michael Busch, and everyone in that clubhouse loves Turner. So, a veteran minimum contract could work out for next year.
Nevertheless, it might be best not to give Turner another contract. If the Cubs are serious World Series contenders, they need to fill out their bench with more productive bats.