:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52045715/617295208.0.jpeg)
The Cardinals are interested in free-agent third baseman Justin Turner, according to a report from Jon Morosi of MLB.com. As Morosi notes, St. Louis may have to trade Jhonny Peralta for a match with Turner to make sense.
The market for Turner has been slow to develop, as teams are waiting on the completion of the new collective bargaining agreement before pursuing major free agents like Turner, Edwin Encarnacion and Yoenis Cespedes. The Dodgers are known to be interested in a reunion with the infielder, and the Angels have been linked in previous reports.
The Cardinals’ current roster construction would not seem to indicate a need for Turner, though a trade of Peralta would open an infield spot alongside Matt Carpenter (first base), Kolten Wong (second base) and Aledmys Diaz (shortstop). The club also has Jedd Gyorko as a depth option, along with Peralta.
Turner, 32, is looking to cash in on the open market after a strong season in which he hit .275/.339/.493 with 27 homers and 90 RBI for Los Angeles. He is projected to earn a 5-year deal on the open market, and will be the most highly sought-after infielder at this year’s Winter Meetings.