Sources: Cubs, Turner agree to 1-year, $6M deal

MESA, Ariz. — The Chicago Cubs are in agreement with free agent corner infielder Justin Turner on a 1-year, $6 million contract, sources tell ESPN. The deal is pending a physical.

Turner, 40, split time between Toronto and Seattle last season compiling a .354 OBP in 139 games. He also hit 11 home runs while batting .259. Overall, Tuner has a .821 OPS in 16 big league seasons.

The Cubs have been searching for a backup for Michael Busch at first base as well as someone who can fill in at third. Turner checks those boxes but probably won’t be asked to play third base very often as he made only six appearances there last season.

He does provide some insurance at the hot corner as the team plans on starting rookie Matt Shaw there. Shaw has been slowed early in camp by an oblique issue.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Tuesday that he couldn’t confirm any transactions, but acknowledged that adding a veteran position player is something the team pursued.

“Theoretically, I think it’s important to fortify the roster in any way possible,” Hoyer said. “You always think about what things can go wrong, how to get better at each area, and I think that’s kind of how we spent the end of this offseason.”

Turner is joining his seventh organization after many productive years with the Dodgers where he was a two-time All-Star and finished in the top-15 voting for the MVP award three times.

He has also played in 86 postseason games — undoubtedly an attractive quality for the Cubs, who are hoping to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

“He’s been a really good player for a long time, and I think that he’s someone that we can really learn a lot from,” Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson said. “Just his experience, and he’s just such a pro at what he does. … He’s somebody that you definitely want to have on your team.”

Also Tuesday, the Cubs announced that they have signed right-handed pitcher Chris Flexen to a minor league deal. Flexen, 30, made 30 starts for the White Sox last season.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.