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Which free agent designated hitter should the Arizona Diamondbacks sign?

The Arizona Diamondbacks need a designated hitter. Fortunately, this free agent market has a wealth of possibilities.

By Renee Dechert

World Series - Houston Astros v Philadelphia Phillies - Game Three
World Series - Houston Astros v Philadelphia Phillies - Game Three / Sarah Stier/GettyImages
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Justin Turner

Projected contract: 1 year, $16 million

Age: 38

Status: Free agent after spending one year with the Boston Red Sox.

Even though Turner’s time with the Dodgers has ended, he remained in solid form with the Red Sox in 2023. He slashed .276/.345/.455 with 23 home runs in 626 plate appearances. He’s still got it and can play a serviceable infield. (His defense is around league average as measured by DRS.)

A familiar face at Chase Field given all those years with the Dodgers, Turner has slashed .309/.380/.532 with a .912 OPS (119 tOPS+). That’s in 300 plate appearances, which includes 11 home runs and 22 doubles.

What’s good about this? The D-backs know a great deal about Turner because they saw him so many times when he was with the Dodgers. Plus, he’s proven to be a durable player who is still a serviceable defender. In addition, a one-year contract is not a bad thing.

What’s not so good about this? Turner’s approaching 40, which increases the odds that he could suffer an injury.

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