MLB Weekly Digest February 15th Edition: Dodgers Re-Sign Justin Turner

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The last week in MLB was about a team in the National League re-signing a third baseman, an outfielder in the American League is traded, and a team will be without a critical member of their bullpen.

Los Angeles Dodgers Re-Sign Third Baseman Justin Turner to Two-Year Contract

Lettts gooo run it back @Dodgers fans!!! @vaynersports @vaynerbaseball pic.twitter.com/fRY0pvyWMx

— Justin Turner (@redturn2) February 14, 2021

The Los Angeles Dodgers have re-signed third baseman, Justin Turner.

The contract is worth $34 million over two years, including a club option for a third season and an $8-million signing bonus, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Justin Turner deal with Dodgers, per source: Two years, $34M, with club option for third season. Includes $8M signing bonus.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 14, 2021

The agreement with Turner pushes the Dodgers luxury-tax payroll past $254 million, per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.

The Justin Turner will push the #Dodgers 2021 luxury tax payroll figure to $254 million and some change.

— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) February 14, 2021

Turner had a solid 2020 season with the Dodgers, as he posted a .307 batting average and .860 OPS in 42 games with nine doubles, four home runs, and 23 RBIs.

The third baseman has been very productive in his seven seasons with the Dodgers.

He has compiled a .302 average and .886 OPS with 116 home runs and 406 RBIs within that period.

The Dodgers bringing back Turner was logical as he has proven to be a reliable player for the team over the past several seasons.

Boston Red Sox Trade Outfielder Andrew Benintendi to Kansas City Royals in Three-Team Deal

The Boston Red Sox have traded outfielder Andrew Benintendi and cash considerations to the Kansas City Royals in a three-team deal involving the New York Mets, per a team announcement.

The #RedSox today traded OF Andrew Benintendi and cash considerations to the KC Royals, in exchange for OF Franchy Cordero & 2 players to be named later.

Additionally, the Red Sox received minor league RHP Josh Winckowski & a player to be named later from the New York Mets.

— Red Sox (@RedSox) February 11, 2021

The Royals have sent outfield prospect Khalil Lee to the Mets in the deal and outfielder Franchy Cordero and two players to be named later to the Red Sox.

The Mets send right-handed pitcher Josh Winckowski and another player to be named later to the Red Sox, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.

The three-way trade is done, sources tell ESPN.

Royals get: OF Andrew Benintendi

Mets get: OF Khalil Lee

Red Sox get: OF Franchy Cordero, RHP Josh Winckowski, two PTBNLs from Kansas City, one PTBNL from New York

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 11, 2021

Winckowski was recently acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in the Steven Matz deal.

The players to be named will not be selected until after the minor league season starts, per Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic.

Bloom says PTBNLs won't be determined until the minor league season starts. The pandemic and no minor league season last year left little time for evaluation so Royals and Mets agreed to give them that time

— Jen McCaffrey (@jcmccaffrey) February 11, 2021

Benintendi is coming off a tough 2020 campaign in which he posted just a .103 batting average in 14 games and was out most of the season due to a rib cage injury.

The Red Sox moving Benintendi might be surprising as he has accumulated a .273 average and .789 OPS in five seasons with the Red Sox.

However, the Red Sox probably decided to trade the outfielder because he was susceptible to striking out.

He averaged 119 strikeouts from 2017-20, and during that same timeframe, he averaged just 16 home runs and 82 RBIs.

The team was thinking it was best to get some value for him now.

New York Mets Reliever Seth Lugo Will Undergo Elbow Surgery to Remove Bone Spurs

The New York Mets will be without reliever Seth Lugo when the regular season begins.

He will undergo elbow surgery tomorrow to remove a loose body in his right elbow, per a team announcement.

Mets announce RHP Seth Lugo will undergo elbow surgery to remove a loose body. Here’s the full update: pic.twitter.com/BKYPlmCHFV

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) February 13, 2021

Lugo will not throw for six weeks and then transitions into a throwing program.

Lugo’s loss is monumental for the Mets’ bullpen as he has been their best reliever the past several years.

Lugo provides the team with versatility as they utilize him in a variety of roles.

A silver lining is the injury happened before the regular season started, and, hopefully, he returns later in the year.

About Post Author

Chris Lacey

Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.

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