Red Sox sign infielder Turner to one year deal

*Photo from ABC 7 Los Angeles*

   Since JD Martinez went to Los Angeles, someone from Los Angeles is coming to Boston. The Boston Red Sox and 3B Justin Turner have agreed to a one year deal, according to Joon Lee of ESPN. The Red Sox have confirmed the addition.

   The deal guarantees Turner $15 million. It is for one year that has a player option for 2024. Turner will make $8.3 million in 2023, and there is a $7 million buyout if Turner declines the option. If he exercises it, he makes $11.4 million in 2024, totaling out to $21.7 million over two years. There are also incentives based on plate appearances in 2023 for Turner.

   Last season was a down year in the power department, but a solid one altogether for Turner. He ended the season with a .278 batting average, .350 on base percentage, and .788 OPS, adding 13 home runs and 81 RBI's in 128 games. He mustered just two hits and 3 walks in 16 plate appearances in the playoffs.

   With Rafael Devers occupying 3rd base, Turner is likely to spend most of the time at DH in Boston after splitting time at 3rd and DH in 2022. He could also get worked out at first base behind current starter and top prospect Triston Casas.

   Turner has 14 major league seasons in his career with 3 different teams. In that time, Turner has a .289 batting average, .466 slugging percentage, and .366 on base percentage, adding 663 RBI's with 164 home runs in 1,393 games played, making two all star games. He has a .270 batting average with 13 home runs and 42 RBI's in 86 career postseason games.

   Xander Bogaerts and the aforementioned Martinez departed in the offseason, leading the Red Sox to add a righty bat in the person of Turner. He joins Kike Hernandez and Kenley Jansen as members of the 2020 Dodgers championship team now on the Red Sox, with former Dodgers Chris Martin and Alex Verdugo also in the Boston clubhouse.

   Right now, Turner joins Martin, Jansen, Joely Rodriguez, and Masataka Yoshida as offseason additions for the Red Sox, trying to rebound from a disappointing 2022 season.