After 17 seasons in MLB, the Long Beach, California native has found a home in the Central. After bouncing around between both coasts and even Canada, Justin Turner is now a Chicago Cub.
His signing adds veteran leadership to a locker room that will benefit from it. Turner also brings serious playoff experience, having won a World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020.
A season ago, the Cubs finished 83-79, which was tied for second-best in the NL Central. It was the second year in a row that Chicago had that same record, falling nine or ten games short of winning the division.
The Turner addition is a step in the right direction, but the Cubs can't be finished making additions.
Patrick Corbin is the Addition the Cubs Need to Bolster Playoff Hopes
With another bat in the lineup in Turner, the next move the Cubs should make is for pitching help. Adding another quality arm to bolster the depth since we know injuries happen on every team in a 162-game season.
Since the Cubs already have Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, and Jameson Taillon, they are not in dire need of an ace. However, a former ace who can be a reliable option at the back of the starting rotation would increase Chicago's chances of returning to the postseason.
A season ago, the Cubs had the tenth best ERA in the league (3.78), which was decidedly a step or two down from the New York Yankees, but ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Both teams were just in the World Series last year, too. Furthermore, the Cubs gave up just as many home runs as the Yankees with 181 a piece. Yet even the 41-win Chicago White Sox struck out more batters than the Cubs.
Patrick Corbin is still unsigned. Just like Turner, he has won a World Series, too. Corbin was a strong contributor to the champions that season in 2019. The Clay, New York native has started in at least 30 games and racked up at least 120 strikeouts in each of his last four seasons.
Bringing him on board adds depth and could be a low cost, minimal pressure for both parties. A one-year 'prove it' type deal provides a benefit to both the team and the player. Adding an option for a second season may entice 6'3'' pitcher to sign with the Cubs.
Bring Back Anthony Rizzo!
A second move the Cubs should back is bringing in another veteran with championship experience. This suggestion is more familiar to the fan base than Turner or Corbin.
Michael Busch is the starting first baseman and should be. As the season progresses, adding players with the accolades and achievements such as Anthony Rizzo only make a team stronger.
Rizzo was a part of the Cubs' World Series victory in 2017. He can also be inserted in the batting order as the designated hitter.
The days of Rizzo being an everyday player are probably gone. However, he has been to the World Series more recently than the Cubs have. The 35-year-old played for the New York Yankees last season as they fell short against the Dodgers.
If nothing else, Rizzo becomes a potential trade piece on a team-friendly contract for another buyer. Rizzo or even Turner could be used to get another middle infielder or fill in holes that may appear during the 2025 regular season.
This allows the Cubs to be potential buyers and sellers who can still help the team inside of a playoff push. It can also set them up nicely for next year's free agency with Turner and others coming off the books.
Regardless, Turner should not be the last addition that the Chicago Cubs make. Make a pitch to Corbin and hope Rizzo still has a few hits left in the tank for his former team.