Turner popularity explodes as 40-year-old free agent, Dodgers offer again

Veteran infielder Justin Turner, 39, who turns 40 next year, is receiving interest from five teams in free agency. While his former team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, is reportedly interested, Turner has expressed his desire to remain with his original team, the Boston Red Sox.

Boston local publication ‘MassLive’ reported on Nov. 12 (KST) that Turner wants to re-sign with the Red Sox. Turner waived his player option for next year’s $13.4 million salary with Boston on April 4, earning a $6.7 million buyout to become a free agent.

Speaking at a Pedro Martinez Foundation event in Boston on Nov. 11, Turner said, “I want to come back and be a part of it. I’ve heard a lot of players, including Pedro, say that when you’re in the playoffs, you know how great this city is. I want to be a part of that, and I can’t wait to see what it’s like to play in the playoffs for Boston.” The Red Sox went 78-84 this year, good for fifth place in the American League (AL) East.

At least five teams have reportedly made offers to Turner, including the Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Angels, and Arizona Diamondbacks. Turner will be 40 years old next year, but he is receiving a lot more interest from teams than he did a year ago.

Turner parted ways with his nine-year team after last season when the Dodgers waived his $16 million team option for 2023. The Dodgers signed designated hitter J.D. Martinez, who is three years younger than Turner, to a one-year, $10 million deal, while Turner signed a free agent contract with Boston for $15 million guaranteed and up to $21.7 million over two years.

This season in Boston, Turner played beyond his years. In 146 games, he batted .276 (154-for-558) with 23 home runs, 96 RBIs, and an OPS of .800. He set career single-season records for hits and RBIs, signaling his health at the plate and boosting his market value significantly from a year ago.

World Series runner-up Arizona is among the favorites to acquire Turner. His former team, the Dodgers, are also interested, 먹튀검증토토사이트 but the Red Sox remain his top priority. He wants to stay with the team that gave him a chance a year ago.

He also spoke with Boston’s new president of baseball operations, Craig Breslow. “The day he was named president, I sat down with him in the clubhouse for about an hour and talked about a few things. He’s trying to get to know everyone in the organization. It was a casual conversation, not a lot of business talk.”

Breslow praised Turner’s positive impact on the team at last week’s general managers’ meetings in Scottsdale, Arizona, but said, “We have to figure out how he fits into our roster.” Turner’s value as a full-time designated hitter isn’t high under Breslow, who has struggled to find a way to utilize the position as a defensive break for third baseman Rafael Devers and outfielder Masataka Yorida. Turner started 98 games at designated hitter this year, 35 at first base and 34 at second base.

It’s unlikely he’ll be re-signed unless Boston sees defensive value in him as a backup at first or third base next year. “I don’t know what direction President Breslow and the front office are going to go, but I want to be a part of it and put on a Boston uniform again,” Turner said. “My wife and I loved our time in Boston. The city was fantastic for us. To have the opportunity to play in a Boston uniform, to play at Fenway Park, and to call this place home was incredible. It was one of the best experiences of my career,” he said, expressing his affection for Boston.