All you need to know about which team will Justin Turner be playing for in the upcoming 2023 MLB season.
Justin Turner will not be playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers anymore as he has now found a new home for himself in Boston with the Red Sox.
This past summer, the Boston Red Sox strengthened their lineup by adding a tenacious runner-producer by the name of free agent Justin Turner. Turner’s contract is for one year, with a player option for the year 2024 included in the terms. The Boston Red Sox have designated left-handed pitcher Darwinzon Hernandez for assignment so that they may make room on their 40-man roster for Turner.
After losing Xander Bogaerts to the Padres and J.D. Martinez to the Dodgers in free agency, it was no secret that the Red Sox were looking for a right-handed bat to replace them in their lineup.
Last year, Turner, who is now 38 years old, shared his time between third base and the designated hitter position. Turner will most likely spend most of his time at bat with the Red Sox in the designated hitter position due to the presence of Boston’s standout slugger Rafael Devers at third base for the team.
Turner joins fellow former Los Angeles Dodgers teammate Kiké Hernández and closer Kenley Jansen on the Red Sox roster. The Dodgers won the World Series in 2020, and the Red Sox finished in second place. In addition, Alex Verdugo and Chris Martin played for the Dodgers in the past. Hernández took to his Twitter account in order to voice his delight at getting back together with an old teammate of his.
Nevertheless, Turner might also receive some work at first base, which is a position he has started 25 games at over the course of his career. It is anticipated that Triston Casas, a rookie who hits to the left side of the plate, will take over as Boston’s starting first baseman. Turner might get several at-bats early on against some left-handed pitchers.
Justin Turner had a great career with the Dodgers
Justin Turner made his Major League Baseball debut in 2009 with the Baltimore Orioles but was designated for assignment the following May. He spent portions of four seasons with the New York Mets until being released after the 2013 season.
Being forced into the uncertainties of free agency proved to be a stroke of luck. Turner signed a Minor League contract with the Dodgers ahead of the start of Spring Training in 2014, where he served as a super utility player.
Turner became a regular at third base the following season and took over as the Dodgers’ full-time third baseman after Juan Uribe was traded to the Atlanta Braves in May 2015. Turner appeared in 151 games for the Dodgers in 2016 and signed a four-year contract extension with the team that winter.
Turner’s rise continued in 2017 when he was named to his first All-Star Game. He broke the now-defunct MLB Final Vote record and had a career-high.945 on-base plus slugging percentage. Turner won MVP votes for the third year in a row in 2018, and he was a key player for manager Dave Roberts in 2019.
His consistent presence in the lineup and clubhouse has continued into October. Turner shared the NLCS MVP award with Chris Taylor, and he helped lead the Dodgers to their first World Series berth since 1988.
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