Justin Turner hoping to return to the Red Sox, free agency starting to pick up
The Red Sox are laser focused on adding top line starting pitching for next season. That hasn’t stopped new chief baseball officer Craig Breslow from commenting on the need for a right-handed bat.
Boston is exploring the idea of bringing back free agent Justin Turner. Both parties are interested in a re-union for 2024, but Breslow has made it clear to the media, the Red Sox will use a rotation of different players at the designated hitter spot next year.
“On a high level, we’d probably look to give Alex (Cora) as much flexibility as possible,” said Breslow, “recognizing that it’s a long season and there will be times when he’s going to look to get guys off their feat but keep their bats in the lineup. I don’t think there’s one (specific) way to do it.
“Obviously, I played with a guy who manned the DH spot for quite some time and was pretty successful doing it. Short of that, having as many kind of creative possibilities as we can arrange is what makes sense.”
Turner appeared at the Pedro Martinez Foundation Gala on Friday and he reiterated his desire to return to the Red Sox in 2024.
“I would love to be back and be with the Sox,” Turner said. “I think the crazy thing is that as great as our experience was, we finished in last place in the AL East. From what I’ve heard from all these guys — Pedro included — is how amazing this town is when you’re making a playoff run.
“I want to be a part of that. It has been A-plus across the board in everything we’ve done and that’s with finishing in fifth place in the AL East. I want to know what it’s like to play in a playoff game for the Red Sox, not against them.”
Turner acknowledged that he has heard from more teams this offseason, including the National League champion Arizona Diamondbacks. The NLCS champs are looking for someone to play third base and DH, similar to what Turner did with the Red Sox last year.
The veteran slugger and his wife, Kourtney, have stated they love Boston. Turner has been working out at Fenway Park and met with Breslow since he’s been hired by the club.
“I sat down with the clubhouse with him maybe the day after he was hired,” Turner said. “We had about an hour conversation and got into some things. It was very new for him at the time and he’s still trying to get to know everybody in the organization. It was very casual. There wasn’t very much business.”
Breslow spoke highly of Turner at the GM Meetings last week, but was honest and transparent on the club needing to “figure out if he (Turner) fits and how he fits” moving forward.
Boston is likely to also rotate Masataka Yoshida and Rafael Devers at the DH spot next season.
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