And while Turner played a key role in helping the Cubs gel as a team and find an identity en route to the club’s first playoff berth in five years, he will now hit free agency. On Thursday, Chicago made the anticipated move of declining a $10 million team option for ‘26 in favor of a $2 million buyout.
“The true teachers and the true teammates, they do that part without making themselves the center of attention,” manager Craig Counsell said during the postseason. “Justin has a really great way of doing that. … And that comes across as so authentic to his teammates, and that’s why it’s so impactful.”
The 40-year-old Turner joined the Cubs knowing he would be taking on less of a role on the field, compared to his previous decade-plus in the Majors. He served as a backup option for first base, third base and designated hitter, while offering an experienced pinch-hitter off the bench and a veteran voice in the dugout.
In 80 games overall for the North Siders, Turner hit .219/.288/.314 with 18 RBIs, but that does not really tell the story of his on-field production. Turner posted a .759 OPS against lefties, a .795 OPS as a pinch-hitter and an .802 OPS as an in-game substitute. All three of his home runs came against left-handed pitching (two being pinch-hit blasts).
A veteran of 17 seasons in the big leagues – most notably his nine years turning into a star with the Dodgers – Turner launched his 200th career home run on July 8 against the Twins. His final homer of the ‘25 season with the Cubs came on Aug. 3, when he belted a two-run walk-off blast against the Orioles that gave his teammates a chance to celebrate the leadership he provided.
