CHICAGO – From the veterans in the room to the Cubs’ younger players, the entire group was quick to praise Justin Turner for his impact behind the scenes this past season. He was credited with providing more than what would ever show up in a box score .

And while Turner played a key role in helping the Cubs gel as a team and find an identity en route to the club’s first playoff berth in five years , he will now hit free agency. On Thursday, Chicago made the anticipated move of declining a $10 million team option for ‘26 in favor of a $2 million buyout.

“The true teachers and the true teammates, they do that part without making themselves the center of attention,” manager Craig Counsell said during the postseason. “Justin has a really great way of doing that. … And that comes acro

See Full Page