Purple Sox
Turner has a participant possibility for subsequent season.
Justin Turner has confirmed to be a pivotal a part of the 2023 Purple Sox. It’s removed from a assure although that he’s on the workforce subsequent season.
The Purple Sox designated hitter and nook infielder signed a two-year deal final offseason with an possibility for the second season that also permits him to earn cash from the workforce.
As a giant choice awaits Turner, the 38-year-old (who turns 39 in November) isn’t able to make a 2024 dedication.
“I’m not even there but. That’s for after the season and we’ll determine it out when that comes,” Turner informed reporters on which approach he is perhaps leaning, by way of MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “I like taking part in in Boston and I’ve had an ideal expertise right here, so clearly, it could be unbelievable if I used to be nonetheless right here.”
Following a comparatively quiet opening month in Boston, Turner warmed up as spring turned to summer time. He hit .306 with a .913 OPS to go along with 16 homers and 66 RBIs in 68 video games from June by August.
Turner’s scorching streak on the plate, significantly in June and July, coincided with the Purple Sox’ climb up the standings, as they sat simply a few video games out of the playoff image for a superb quantity of that stretch. However a bone bruise Turner suffered on his heel on July 31 additionally coincided with Boston’s fall down the standings, struggling in August and September, with Turner hitting .214 within the latter month.
Turner took each a glass-half-full and empty strategy when assessing his season.
“I really feel prefer it was good however not adequate, clearly,” Turner stated. “The aim is to play within the postseason and we fell wanting that. That’s disappointing. Barring me hurting my heel in Seattle, missed a number of video games for that and a pair video games in San Diego earlier this 12 months when my knee was barking, I believe I’ve finished a fairly good job of being out there, going out each evening and making an attempt to put up.”
Whereas Turner’s bat has been important to the Purple Sox having probably the greatest offenses in baseball this season (he’s high three on the workforce in common, OPS, homers, and RBIs amongst certified hitters), Boston may not have room for him subsequent season. It’s been speculated that the Purple Sox could move Masataka Yoshida to be their designated hitter on a extra common foundation in 2024.
Turner additionally has an incentive to opt-out. He’ll nonetheless earn $6.7 million if he declines the $13.4 million possibility for 2024. With the way in which Turner’s hit this season, it’s straightforward to suppose that he’ll greater than make up the distinction between the 2 numbers.
If Turner is getting into the ultimate week of his Purple Sox tenure, he appears grateful for it.
“I’ve cherished it. It has been unbelievable,” Turner informed The Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham in an interview of his time in Boston. “Love town, my spouse [Kourtney] loves town. The group has been first-class actually since Day 1. After I bought hit within the face [by a pitch] in spring coaching, Chaim [Bloom] and Raquel [Ferreira] and Brandon [Henry, the head athletic trainer] have been coming over to the home every single day to examine on me.
“It’s been nice, proper as much as the highest with John [Henry] and Sam [Kennedy] and Tom [Werner].”
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