It was the question that everyone was waiting to be asked, yet it took 10 minutes into his first off-season Zoom media conference for someone to finally ask. That someone was ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez:

How high up on your list is bringing Justin Turner back?

Boom.

As expected, Roberts’ predictable answer surprised no one.

“He’s way up there. He’s way up there.”

Predictable indeed.

“I think that, what Justin does on the field, in the clubhouse, in the community, he’s one of the Dodger greats, he really is,” Roberts elaborated. “I think it’s been six years he’s been a Dodger, and he’s in that elite company. His body of work is really special; unique.”

And then came the obligatory “but” that everyone behind their respective computer screens absolutely knew was coming.

“But it’s a two-way deal here, it’s the organization, the Dodgers, and it also Justin and his family, and they’ve got to make a decision.”

Roberts then finished his answer with what every Dodger fan on the planet was hoping to hear.

“For me, selfishly, I’ll take him for as long as I can have him.”

It was clearly a feel-good answer to a question that Roberts had undoubtedly anticipated and perhaps even rehearsed for. But it also gave zero indication as to where the Dodgers – i.e., President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman – are at in the negotiation process to bring the popular (now) free-agent Dodgers third baseman back next season and possibly beyond.

As for when Roberts last spoke with his (now) 36-year-old All-Star third baseman who led the team in slugging percentage (.720) in the World Series, this answer was a bit surprising, given the significance of re-signing or not re-signing the career .292 hitter.

“I think Justin is traveling right now; I’m not sure where he’s at,” Roberts said. “I talked to him the night before Corey Seager‘s [December 5, 2020] wedding, and we did a little quick FaceTime; the beard was trimmed up. So we’ll connect, I think next week, but I didn’t really get too much into where he’s at as far as his free-agency. I just really feel that that’s a decision for him, his wife Kourtney, his agent, and he’s going to kick the tires on whatever opportunity presents its self. But you know, I think, how much I value him as a person and a pro.”

During the presser, Roberts acknowledged that not knowing where Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association stand with regards to again utilizing a Designated Hitter in the National League in 2021 is a bit of an obstacle for “the executives in baseball.” However, he also acknowledged that he liked the DH rule last season.

“I liked the DH, I really liked it,” Roberts said without hesitation.

Play Ball!

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