Veteran infielder Justin Turner played the 2025 season with the Chicago Cubs, who made it to the National League Division Series before falling short. Turner was a player that rose from obscurity to become a star later in his career. It wasn’t until he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers that he caught fire.
However, he became a free agent again at the end of the 2025 season, and the Cubs did not offer him a contract to return. In fact, not a single team even offered him a minor league deal or an invite to spring training.
But the 41-year-old isn’t giving up on his dream just yet. In fact, he has now seemingly revitalized his career in Tijuana, Mexico.
“I’ve always said I’m going to play as long as I can and make someone rip a jersey off me,” Turner told Sam Blum and Dennis Lin of The Athletic. “I love playing, I love being around guys, love being around the cage. I still feel really good in the box. On top of that, my family, my wife loves the games and loves coming to games. So, I mean, baseball is not going anywhere, and whatever it is that I’ll do when I’m done playing isn’t going anywhere.”
Justin Turner Not Done Yet
Turner has played 17 years in Major League Baseball. He began his career with the Baltimore Orioles in 2009 and then spent a few years with the New York Mets. He joined the Dodgers in 2014 and earned both of his All-Star nods playing for them. He also won a World Series ring in 2020.
Since then, he has made stops with the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners and Cubs. However, he is best known for his time with the Dodgers, where he became an instant fan favorite and helped guide them to eight National League West titles and three NL pennants in addition to his World Series ring.
But even though no teams offered him a contract, he isn’t done playing just yet, and still believes he has more to give. In fact, he is quite well loved in Tijuana, and he isn’t too far from Dodger Stadium. He also has seen a lot of friendly faces make the trip down to Mexico.
“Supposedly, this is a Padres stadium, usually, but I’ve seen a ton of Dodger fans down here,” the 17-year MLB veteran said. “I tell you what, it’s a hell of a lot cheaper than a Dodger ticket or a Padre ticket.”
What’s Next for JT?
Turner’s time in MLB may be at an end soon, but it’s clear that he doesn’t want to stop playing yet. It’s also not impossible that an MLB team could give him a look and sign him to a one-year deal to finish out his career.
But Turner still is having fun playing baseball, and doesn’t want to give that up just yet.
For his career, Turner has slashed .283/.360/.454 with 201 home runs, 832 RBI, a 38.6 WAR and an .814 OPS. The 2020 NLCS MVP and former Clemente Award winner still may have something left to give.
Ex-Dodgers’ Champion Justin Turner Makes Clear Decision on Retirement