Cubs May Have to Make Tough Call on Beloved Clubhouse Guy

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Chicago Cubs veteran Justin Turner

When the Chicago Cubs signed Justin Turner to a one-year, $6 million contract back in January, the reasoning was sound.

The Cubs were hoping to squeeze one more year out of a veteran hitter with a reputation for clutch at-bats and a steady clubhouse presence. Turner checked the boxes on paper — World Series champion, two-time All-Star, a professional at-bat every night.

“He’s been a really good player for a long time. He’s someone that we can really learn a lot from, just his experience,” said Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson. “He’s just such a pro at what he does. That, I think, will really, really impact this group.”

But halfway through the 2025 season, it’s getting harder for the Cubs to justify keeping Turner’s name in the lineup card, and multiple reports suggest the front office could be on the verge of cutting bait.

MLB Analysts Suggest Justin Turner Should be on ‘DFA-Watch’

In a column Sunday for FanSided, Zachary Rotman listed Turner high among “5 Cubs players who won’t be on the roster after the trade deadline.” Rotman highlighted Turner’s struggles at the plate, slashing just .208/.290/.264 with one home run and 12 RBIs this season, and he stated that Turner “should be on DFA-watch.”

“It was fair to give him some leash, given his track record, but it’s July,” Rotman wrote. “It’s time for the Cubs to admit this offseason mistake and find a better fit.”

Just Baseball recently named Turner, now 40 years old, one of five “aging stars who look washed ,” a tough but fair label for a hitter with a .554 OPS through nearly three months of baseball. The Cubs cannot afford to spend a roster spot on a nonproductive player, no matter how much of a clubhouse guy he may be.

The plan when Turner signed was for him to platoon at first base with Michael Busch, while also splitting time at designated hitter and as a backup third baseman. Jed Hoyer and the front office hoped Turner could be a mentor for the team’s young core, praising his presence as a stabilizer, and early on, that leadership made a difference.

“[He’s] just like a baseball rat … in a good way,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “He loves the game. He loves to talk about the game … just [his] engagement on the bench during the game. … We’ve got a very engaged team … and I think he’s kind of at the center of that.”

Justin Turner Has Provided Leadership, But Little Offense for Chicago

Unfortunately, Turner simply hasn’t produced at the plate, and with the Cubs expected to be aggressive and add pieces before the trade deadline, they might have to make the very tough decision to let him go.

There’s no stat for glue guys — but every contender needs them. Even in a lineup that leads the league in runs per game, the Cubs know how much it matters to have a veteran voice who keeps the bench focused and the dugout loose when it needs to be.

Still, the numbers are the numbers, and .208 at age 40 with one homer won’t hold off Father Time or the trade deadline forever. While the team’s offense as a whole has done enough to keep them in the fight, every roster spot is precious when you’re chasing October.

If the Cubs make the call soon, it’ll close the book on an experiment that was always built on a short window. Turner bet he had enough left to contribute. The Cubs bet his intangibles could offset what his bat no longer provides. Both bets still count — but at some point, the runs have to come from somewhere else.

Dave Benson Dave Benson is a longtime writer with over three decades of experience in a variety of mediums, including 15 years covering high school, collegiate and minor league sports in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Dave is also a licensed English teacher and spent a few years teaching at the middle school level. More about Dave Benson