February 22nd, 2021 at 9:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka Chances are exceptionally good that if you were to ask a Dodger fan – any Dodger fan – who the team’s heart and soul is, the answer would (probably) be unanimous – 36-year-old Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner. As such, when it was announced – by Turner himself on Twitter – that he had re-signed with the Dodgers, there was a collective sigh of relief among Dodger fans everywhere.
(Courtesy of @redturn2)
Taking it one step further, and it should come as a surprise to no one, the most popular Dodger, 32-year-old future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw, feels the same way.
“Obviously excited to have JT back,” Kershaw told reporters during his Zoom media conference on Sunday. “He means a lot to this team; he means a whole lot. Obviously, his performance and what he does on the field is huge.
“I think that there’s just like a calming presence a little bit to know that JT’s playing that day, that JT’s here today. He’s a guy we need,” Kershaw added. “Obviously, we have a lot of confidence in different guys to play third base, Edwin Rios being the main one, but having JT back brings it back all full-circle. I’m glad it worked out. I hope he’s happy with how everything happened. This is where he’s meant to be. He’s a Dodger. It just feels right that he’s home. We’re all excited to have him back.”
It’s probably safe to say that everyone in the Dodgers clubhouse feels the way Kershaw does about the Long Beach, CA native and seventh-round draft pick by the Cincinnati Reds in 2006 out of Cal State Fullerton.
As fans know, Turner and the Dodgers agreed to a two-year/$34 million contract extension on February 13. The deal, which was made official this past Friday, includes a club option for a third year, an $8 million signing bonus, and performance incentives that guarantee him an additional $20 million if he finishes first through 10th in the 2022 MVP voting and $17.5 million if he finishes 11th-15th.
(Photo credit – Tom-Pennington)
Turner, whom the Dodgers initially signed as a free agent following the 2016 season, again became a free agent following the Dodgers World Series win on October 27, 2020. His new contract guarantees Dodger fans that he will remain in Dodger Blue at least through 2022 and possibly through 2023.
Play Ball!
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Posted in 
I thought going into the off season as Champs, we just had to stay close to whole.
Number 1 priority was bringing back JT. Bauer was a luxury. Maybe he will be Cy Young worthy. If he pitches well and D Price is good the Dodgers are stacked.
Keep an eye on that Brandon Morrow fellow. I have a feeling we’re going to see the 2017 version of B Mo. You heard it here first.
Ron I think you are right.
Glad to see you saying that. I’ve had the same feeling but I figger you have better information.
I was more like a fist in the air and a loud “YO!” (scared the bejezers outa my wife).
The sigh of relief came later.