Turner is serving as the designated hitter and batting eighth in Sunday's game against the Mets.
Turner is serving as Chicago's DH for the second straight game, as Seiya Suzuki handles left field in the absence of Ian Happ (oblique). Turner has yet to really get going this season, slashing just .161/.269/.161 across 23 games. The veteran is also still looking for his first home run in a Cubs uniform.
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Cubs' Justin Turner: Heads back to bench Monday
Rotowire
Turner is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rangers.
Turner will return to the bench after he picked up his third start of the season in Sunday's 8-7 loss to the Padres and went 0-for-4 with an RBI. All three of those starts have come against left-handed pitching, and Turner will likely remain limited to a short-side platoon role while the Cubs have all of their lineup regulars available.
Turner agreed to terms Tuesday with the Cubs on a one-year, $6 million contract, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
The 40-year-old Turner will join the eighth organization of his career in 2025 after he slashed .259/.354/.383 with 11 home runs over 139 games between the Blue Jays and Mariners last season. Mooney relays that it's "unclear to what extent" the Cubs might consider Turner as an option at third base, where top prospect Matt Shaw (oblique) is the favorite to win the job. The Cubs' plan for now seems to be for Turner to see most of his playing time on the short side of a platoon at first base with Michael Busch, while also getting occasional starts at designated hitter.
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Justin Turner: Nearing deal with Cubs
Rotowire
Turner is close to reaching agreement with the Cubs on a one-year contract, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
Expect the two sides to come to terms on the deal at some point this week, which would give the 40-year-old ample time to get himself prepared for Opening Day. While splitting time between the Blue Jays and Mariners last season, Turner played in 139 games and slashed .259/.354/.383 with 11 home runs, 55 RBI and 59 runs across 539 plate appearances. Though he primarily served as a first baseman and designated hitter in 2024, Turner made four starts at third base between his two stops and could be an option at the hot corner if prospect Matt Shaw (oblique) isn't deemed ready to handle a full-time role with the big club coming out of spring training. Once the Cubs feel confident Shaw is capable of handling an everyday gig, Turner could see most his playing time at first base, where he would occupy the short side of platoon with Michael Busch.
Turner is absent from Saturday's lineup against Oakland.
Turner will sit for a second straight game Saturday. Jorge Polanco will serve as the designated hitter and bat fifth against right-hander Joey Estes.
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Mariners' Justin Turner: Absent from Friday's lineup
Rotowire
Turner is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against Oakland, Shannon Drayer of SeattleSports.com reports.
Turner will begin Friday's contest on the bench while Cal Raleigh serves as the designated hitter and bats second. Turner has reached base safely in 24 straight starts, and since Sept. 1 he's slashed .293/.391/.440 with 13 runs scored, two home runs and eight RBI across 92 plate appearances.
Turner went 1-for-5 with a two-run single in a win over the Astros on Wednesday, extending his on-base streak to 20 games.
Turner has also reached safely in 24 straight starts, and he owns a .302/.396/.500 slash line with a 14.2 percent walk rate and 17.0 percent strikeout rate over that span. Those numbers are reminiscent of vintage Turner from the pinnacle of his career with the Dodgers, and his contributions have played an integral part in keeping the Mariners in contention for an AL wild-card spot.
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Mariners' Justin Turner: In Sunday's lineup
Rotowire
Turner (knee) will start at first base and bat fifth Sunday against the Rangers.
Turner fouled a ball off his knee Saturday and was forced to leave the game, but apparently it's not bad enough to cost him a start. As he approaches his 40th birthday in November, Turner's MLB future is uncertain, but he's shown signs of life with a .303/.398/.494 batting line and four homers in his last 26 games for Seattle.
