Justin Turner Abides, Keeping Young Cubs Away from Gutters

AP Photo/Lynne SladkyJustin Turner went into Tuesday’s game against the Marlins slashing .169/.291/.185 with a 48 wRC+ over 79 plate appearances. Going 3-for-5 with a double inflated those numbers in a big way, but they’re still well below average, and his -0.2 fWAR says a replacement-level player would be better. Except that a replacement player couldn’t possibly have the same impact as a 40-year-old with the wealth of experience Turner has accumulated over the last two-plus decades.

A 2004 College World Series champion with Cal State Fullerton, Turner was drafted by the Reds in 2006 and was traded to the Orioles two years later. He was designated for assignment in May of 2010 after just 17…