MLB Rumors: Turner Heads List Of Free Agents, Faces Possible Sanctions For Breaching COVID-19 Protocols

The Los Angeles Dodgers are still relishing their 2020 World Series win, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-2, in the championship duel. However, the franchise needs to deal with reality soon.

This is concerning several players hitting the free-agent market in the offseason.

The MLB players’ union revealed that there are now 147 athletes who will be free to talk and negotiate with other teams. Seven of those will come from the Dodgers with Justin Turner leading the group.

More names are expected to join that list with several players expected to opt out of their deals. Aside from that, there will be individuals who will not be tendered new contracts in the majors, the LA Times reported.

On the part of the Dodgers, other players aside from Turner include Joc Pederson, Kiké Hernández, Alex Wood, Blake Treinen, Pedro Báez and Jake McGee.

The 35-year-old Turner will become a free agent after seven seasons with the Dodgers.

Turner will be an interesting prospect for MLB teams. He started on a minor league deal in 2014 and eventually established himself as one of the key figures to the franchise. He became a fan-favorite and agreed to a four-year $64 million deal in December 2016.

But before thinking of what the future holds, Turner may be in for a lot of heat as he seemingly put his teammates at risk by returning to the field to join his peers in celebration shortly after learning he had tested positive for the coronavirus.

To make things worse, this was witnessed first-hand by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

It will be recalled that the MLB ordered the veteran third baseman to be removed in the seventh inning.

The MLB will conduct an investigation on the matter, but things are not looking good for the veteran third baseman, according to the New York Times.

“Turner was placed into isolation for the safety of those around him,” the MLB said in a statement.

“However, following the Dodgers’ victory, it is clear that Turner chose to disregard the agreed-upon joint protocols and the instructions he was given regarding the safety and protection of others. While a desire to celebrate is understandable, Turner’s decision to leave isolation and enter the field was wrong and put everyone he came in contact with at risk. When M.L.B. Security raised the matter of being on the field with Turner, he emphatically refused to comply.”