MESA, Ariz. — Justin Turner had better offers in free agency, but he chose the Chicago Cubs because he believes it gives him a strong chance at another World Series ring.

“At this point in my career, I just want to win,” the 40-year-old said. “I want to make a playoff run. For me, this was the best fit, the best team, the best org to win a division and make that deep playoff run and win another World Series.”

It’s been about a half-decade since the Cubs entered the season feeling this confident that the playoffs were likely. Turner doesn’t bring the all-around impact the Cubs had hoped to get in their failed pursuit of Alex Bregman, but it’s clear that even at his advanced age, he can be a productive offensive player.

.@redturn2 clockin’ in. pic.twitter.com/o9G72Yq6ny

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) February 22, 2025

“I feel healthy and I feel productive,” Turner said. “As long as I have those two things underneath my belt I’m going to continue to do what I love.”

While he isn’t quite the player he was when he earned down-ballot MVP votes from 2016-2018, his offensive output has been impressive in his late 30s. Over the last three seasons, Turner’s delivered a 118 wRC+ and remains one of the more difficult at-bats in the big leagues for opposing pitchers.

“The thing you learn quickly about being around Justin is he has a very advanced feel for the game,” manager Craig Counsell said. “He’s seeing things before most guys are seeing them. That’s what one of his great tools is, the ability to see the game.”

Beyond the impact he’s expected to provide on the field, Turner clearly is bringing another veteran voice to the group. It’s rare to not see him chatting with his new teammates, young and old.

“I was lucky to have a lot of guys that I was able to look up to and still look up to,” Turner said. “To be able to be that guy for some of the younger guys and not-so-younger guys, it’s something I really enjoy. Having the conversations, finding out what makes guys tick.”

Over the last three seasons, Ian Happ has quietly become one of the more productive players year in and year out.

Happ is just one of 19 players who has put up at least a 115 OPS+ and had at least 500 plate appearances in each of the last three seasons.

“I think that’s the most important part, being available and out there for your team and producing,” Happ said. “Having that consistency is an important part of my game. Just being able to put in the work to be healthy enough to do that and be out there.”

.@ihapp_1 doin’ Happ things. pic.twitter.com/IeJsXgFh2l

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) February 23, 2025

Happ has always believed that, given the opportunity to play regularly, he would produce. But he also admits that there were adjustments that took place, partly during his demotion to the minors in 2019 and some more after the 2020 season.

“There were some swing changes and stuff to get more consistent,” Happ said. “I think a lot of that is it’s hard for young players. Teams want to see that change, but sometimes you have to play and experience it to get to that point.

“That’s what it was for me. I needed the at-bats and get to a point to learn how to handle the carry (of a) four-seam and extend at-bats. I’ve done a good job of not chasing too much and getting on base, so it was just a matter of handling some of those pitches in the zone a little better. Once I was able to figure that out the whole skill set came together.”

After a breakout campaign in his first full season in the big leagues, Michael Busch hopes to take his game to another level. Counsell agrees that there’s more in the tank for the 27-year-old first baseman.

“Busch is in a place where he put 500 plate appearances under his belt in the big leagues against the best pitchers in the world,” Counsell said. “There’s so much learning that (comes) from that. He’s a talented hitter. You take that experience and the struggles from that — the failures are the best teacher — and you take that to the next place.”

Busch said he felt he could’ve had a better year and the reality is Wrigley Field may have kept him from doing so last summer. Offense’s had a .653 OPS at Wrigley last summer, second-worst in all of baseball.

For Busch, he had a 137 wRC+ on the road and a 97 wRC+ at home. In general, players tend to have better numbers at home than on the road. But Wrigley was such an extreme pitcher’s park last year — something that appeared to be more about randomness and the wind blowing in at an extreme rate than a real trend — that Busch was just one of many Cubs to suffer at home.

“Sometimes baseball’s a cruel sport,” Busch said. “You can have four really good at-bats and have nothing to show for it or feel horrible and sneak out a few hits. If you’re feeling good and having good at-bats and barreling up the ball, you can’t let too much of that get in your head. Keep doing your thing.”

(Photo: Matt Dirksen / Chicago Cubs / Getty Images)

Sahadev Sharma is a staff writer for The Athletic and covers the Chicago Cubs. Previously, Sahadev was a national baseball writer for Baseball Prospectus and ESPN Chicago. Follow Sahadev on Twitter @sahadevsharma