Red Sox Reportedly Have Strong, Mutual Interest In Bringing Back Slugger This Winter
The Boston Red Sox will need to fill their designated hitter vacancy this offseason, likely with a strong right-handed bat.
Red Sox designated hitter Justin Turner will become an unrestricted free agent on Tuesday, barring an extension agreement in the coming days.
The 38-year-old certainly will decline his player option after a stellar season, and look for a new contract. Fortunately, it seems he won't have to leave Boston to do so.
"Even with Trevor Story entering the season healthy, the Red Sox are still in need of a right-handed bat for 2024 and, barring a surprise, will have strong interest in bringing Turner back at the right price," MassLive's Chris Cotillo wrote Tuesday.
"It’s not hard to envision him slotting right back into the role he had in 2023, serving as the primary designated hitter while starting at first base against left-handed starters in an effort to ease Triston Casas’ workload a bit. The interest seems to be mutual, as well. Turner has repeatedly said how much he loved the experience of playing in Boston and has taken a liking to the area."
Turner hit .276 with 54 extra-base hits including 23 home runs, 96 RBIs and a .800 OPS (114 OPS+) in 146 games in his debut season with the Red Sox.
There's an argument to be made that he was the biggest offensive contributor on the roster last season and that's not counting the clear leadership role he assumed immediately upon signing.
At 39 years old, he'll be in line to receive a one or two-year deal, with the former likely to come with some sort of option for 2025.
The only reason Boston would be inclined to not re-sign Turner would be due to the overall defensive issues surrounding the team. Locking Turner into the designated hitter role would ensure that Masataka Yoshida, Rafael Devers and Triston Casas would assume everyday defensive roles. That does not bode well for the Red Sox.
However, the Red Sox could absorb that blow by adding a high-end second baseman. There's also the possibility that Devers bounces back to his 2022 defensive form and Casas improves heading into his second full season.
Turner in a vacuum feels like a must-have next season. The defensive alignment could get murky but having a leader that can drive in nearly 100 RBIs counteracts that issue.
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