Leading up to Tuesday’s trade deadline, the Red Sox were relatively quiet in their transactions, with only one minor deal completed on August 1st when they added infielder Luis Urías from the Brewers.
Nevertheless, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Boston was on the verge of making a groundbreaking move as they engaged in extensive talks regarding Justin Turner.
Rosenthal reports that there were extensive discussions within the Red Sox organization about a potential trade involving designated hitter infielder Justin Turner and the Marlins.
The Marlins were under the impression that they were close to sealing the deal; however, it is unclear what compensation or players the Red Sox would have received from this exchange. Ultimately, no agreement was reached and nothing came to fruition.
The Red Sox’s trade strategy during the 2022 deadline raised eyebrows as they decided to part ways with catcher Christian Vázquez. This move didn’t sit well with former shortstop Xander Bogaerts and other players, as reported by Rosenthal.
Surprisingly, sources indicate that the Red Sox engaged in extensive discussions about trading Justin Turner to the Marlins – a team that had pursued him in previous off-seasons.
It is worth noting that Turner’s leadership is deemed even more valuable to this year’s team compared to Vázquez’s contribution last year.
The Marlins believed they were on the verge of securing Turner. However, when the planned agreement collapsed, they swiftly shifted their focus to acquiring two other batters, Josh Bell and Jake Burger.
The specifics of what the Red Sox would have gained in exchange for Turner remain undisclosed. Nevertheless, for president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom to contemplate disrupting his team’s chemistry during a promising season, the offer must have been highly appealing.
The Marlins possess a wealth of young starting pitchers under contract, which aligns perfectly with Bloom’s objective of bolstering his roster before the deadline.
Turner has been a standout player in his first offensive season with the Boston team. He has maintained an impressive batting average of .286, hitting 17 home runs and driving in 71 runs in 102 games.
Moreover, the 38-year-old veteran has emerged as a prominent leader in the clubhouse. Recently, he has proven himself to be clutch by delivering exceptional performances when it matters most.
Since the All-Star break, Turner has accumulated an impressive 13 RBIs in just 10 plate appearances with runners in scoring position and when the Red Sox are either tied or trailing.
His performance includes a remarkable stat line of 5-for-9 with two doubles, two home runs, two sacrifice flies, and a total of 13 RBIs.
The Red Sox find themselves teetering on the edge of contention in the American League wild card race. With this precarious position in mind, they contemplated both acquiring and offloading players leading up to the deadline; however, they ultimately opted against making any moves.
Several players were subject to trade discussions including pending free agents James Paxton and Adam Duvall as well as outfielder Adam Verdugo; nevertheless, no transactions materialized.
An exception was made for Turner due to his invaluable contributions throughout the season thus far; it is highly likely he will decline his player option for next year and test free agency waters.
Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom demonstrated a willingness to entertain offers for any player if it meant receiving a favorable return; evidently, there must have been something intriguing offered by the Marlins (as noted by Rosenthal – presumably controllable starting pitching) that captured Bloom’s attention enough to initiate negotiations.
For a considerable period of time, the Marlins have been coveting Turner’s talents. Back in winter during free agency, Miami presented Turner with an offer as reported by Alex Speier of The Boston Globe.
Amongst competing offers from the Marlins, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, and Angels, it was ultimately the Red Sox that Turner decided to align himself with.
What time do the red sox play today
| DATE | OPP | TIME / TV | VENUE | HOME STARTER | AWAY STARTER | BUY TICKETS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 5, 2023 | vs Toronto | 4:10 pmFS1 | Fenway Park | J. Schreiber(1-1, 3.74 ERA) | J. Berrios(8-7, 3.31 ERA) | Tickets Starting at $55.00 |
| Aug 6, 2023 | vsToronto | 1:35 pm | Fenway Park | C. Murphy(1-0, 1.59 ERA) | C. Bassitt(10-6, 4.00 ERA) | Tickets Starting at $55.00 |
| Aug 7, 2023 | vs Kansas City | 7:10 pm | Fenway Park | B. Bello(8-6, 3.79 ERA) | C. Ragans(0-0, 1.80 ERA) | Tickets Starting at $31.00 |
| Aug 8, 2023 | vsKansas City | 7:10 pm | Fenway Park | K. Crawford(5-5, 3.62 ERA) | B. Singer(7-8, 5.10 ERA) | Tickets Starting at $28.00 |
| Aug 9, 2023 | vsKansas City | 7:10 pm | Fenway Park | J. Paxton(6-3, 3.60 ERA) | J. Lyles(3-12, 6.24 ERA) | Tickets Starting at $30.49 |
| Aug 10, 2023 | vsKansas City | 7:10 pmMLBN | Fenway Park | N. Pivetta(7-6, 4.08 ERA) | A. Marsh(0-5, 6.75 ERA) | Tickets Starting at $29.92 |
| Aug 11, 2023 | vs Detroit | 7:10 pm | Fenway Park | C. Murphy(1-0, 1.59 ERA) | M. Manning(3-3, 4.53 ERA) | Tickets Starting at $44.00 |
| Aug 12, 2023 | vsDetroit | 4:10 pm | Fenway Park | C. Sale(5-2, 4.58 ERA) | J. Wentz(2-9, 6.37 ERA) | Tickets Starting at $62.83 |
| Aug 13, 2023 | vsDetroit | 12:05 pmPEAC | Fenway Park | B. Bello(8-6, 3.79 ERA) | E. Rodriguez(7-5, 2.96 ERA) | Tickets Starting at $53.00 |
What Channel Is The Red Sox Game On Today
Boston Red Sox Game Today Live on TV – Channel, Time
Conclusion
In conclusion, the trade talks between the Red Sox and an NL team for Justin Turner have certainly captured the attention of baseball fans everywhere. The rumors surrounding this potential deal have been swirling for weeks, creating a sense of excitement and anticipation among both Red Sox supporters and those closely following the MLB.
While nothing has been confirmed as of yet, it is clear that the Red Sox are actively exploring options to strengthen their roster for the upcoming season.
As fans eagerly await updates on these trade talks, only time will tell if Justin Turner will indeed be donning a Red Sox uniform in the near future. Until then, let’s stay tuned and keep our fingers crossed for an exciting outcome to these negotiations.