Third-baseman Justin Turner and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a two-year, $22 million deal Sunday night, according to Joon Lee and Jeff Passan. The contract includes an opt-out after year one. It marks the latest departure this offseason for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who saw Trea Turner, Cody Bellinger and others depart in free agency.
Justin Turner’s deal with the Boston Red Sox is for two years and just shy of $22 million, and it includes an opt-out after the first season, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/9kAFqqX6ay
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 18, 2022
Boston continues to make moves to improve but contend in the AL East. This move comes days after Boston signed Kenley Jansen and Japanese phenom Masataka Yoshida. Furthermore, it’s a solid transaction in response to losing their two All-Stars, J.D. Martinez, who recently signed a one-year, $10 million c contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Then Xander Boagerts signed with the San Diego Padres. But for Turner, he’s going into 2023 as a 38-year-old, and Martinez is only 35. Besides their age, the two had very similar r production in 2022. One of the only big differences to consider is the strikeout percentages. Martinez struck out 24.4 percent of the time, while Turner’s strikeout percentage was just 16.8 percent.
Rafael Devers I the incumbent third baseman, so Turner will likely split time between first and DH. Turner will be a productive hitter around the middle of the lineup, but they still lack power.
Justin Turner’s Career
Turner didn’t get a true opportunity in the majors in 2011 with the New York Mets, playing a full MLB season. After a few years with them and not much success, Turner signed a minor-league deal with the Dodgers, and the rest was history. He ended th 2014 season batting .340 (led the team) and nearly had a .900 OPS, solidifying himself as the Dodgers’ everyday third baseman for the next seven years.
The Dodgers made the postseason every year Turner was with the team, and he never shied away from the spotlight. In his post eason career, he is batting .270 with a .830 OPS and has 13 home runs and 42 RBI. And as of 2 20, he holds the Dodgers’ franchise record for most hits in the postseason with 85. The two-tim All-Star won the World Series with the Dodgers in 2020.
The 2022 Roberto Clemente Award winner will go down as a Dodgers Hall of Famer.
Main Photo
Players mentioned:
Justin Turner, Trea Turner, Cody Bellinger, Kenley Jansen, Masataka Yoshida, Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez
