Cubs’ bench was a problem—and moving on from Justin Turner proves they know it

Much like the bullpen, the Chicago Cubs' bench will look quite different from what it did at the end of the 2025 season. In beginning that reconstruction, Justin Turner has become a free agent. Turner signed a one-year deal with the Cubs last offseason with a mutual option for 2026, and an announcement from the MLBPA on Thursday confirmed he won't be back with the Cubs.

Turner will be paid a $2MM buyout, but that is pennies compared to how much flexibility the Cubs have this offseason.

While Craig Counsell warned Turner at the time of his signing that his role would be limited, the 40-year-old first baseman found himself in a platoon role with Michael Busch at first base. Turner was often in the lineup against left-handed pitchers, and while he played to his career norms against southpaws, his overall numbers left a lot to be desired.

Turner finished his only season with the Cubs with a slash line of .219/.288/.314 with a wRC+ of 71 in 191 plate appearances. Turner's biggest impact appeared to be in the dugout, serving as a veteran mentor for Pete Crow-Armstrong and Matt Shaw. Commendable work, for sure, but not something that warranted him wasting a roster spot for the entire season.

Justin Turner's time with the Chicago Cubs felt like a retirement tour, and that has been a common problem for Jed Hoyer's bench construction.

While Turner lasted longer with the Cubs than Trey Mancini and Eric Hosmer, his time with the team felt awfully similar. Jed Hoyer has made a habit of signing players on the wrong side of their playing career, and for a team that is expected to win on the margins, that strategy is a massive failure.

It will be curious to see what the plan is for Busch against left-handed hitters in 2026. His breakout campaign in 2026 would suggest that Counsell shouldn't be afraid to keep him in the lineup against lefties, but that wasn't the case during the NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers.

As it stands, the Cubs don't have a backup first baseman on their roster, so that could be an underlying need for them this winter. Jonathon Long, one of the team's top-10 prospects, could also be on the inside track to back up Busch next year.