‘I’m not even there but’: Justin Turner finds potential Pink Sox return ‘implausible,’ however not able to make 2024 dedication

Pink Sox

Turner has a participant choice for subsequent season.

Justin Turner has loved his first season in Boston, however positional musical chairs may go away him out of the image for 2024. (AP Picture/Julio Cortez)

Justin Turner has confirmed to be a pivotal a part of the 2023 Pink Sox. It’s removed from a assure although that he’s on the group subsequent season.

The Pink Sox designated hitter and nook infielder signed a two-year deal final offseason with an choice for the second season that also permits him to earn cash from the group.

As an enormous determination 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 likely to be leaning, by way of MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “I really like enjoying in Boston and I’ve had an awesome expertise right here, so clearly, it will be implausible 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 together with 16 homers and 66 RBIs in 68 video games from June via August.

Turner’s sizzling streak on the plate, notably in June and July, coincided with the Pink Sox’ climb up the standings, as they sat simply a few video games out of the playoff image for 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 ok, clearly,” Turner mentioned. “The objective 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 yr when my knee was barking, I feel I’ve performed a reasonably good job of being accessible, going out each night time and attempting to publish.”

Whereas Turner’s bat has been important to the Pink Sox having among the finest offenses in baseball this season (he’s high three on the group in common, OPS, homers, and RBIs amongst certified hitters), Boston won’t have room for him subsequent season. It’s been speculated that the Pink 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 choice for 2024. With the way in which Turner’s hit this season, it’s straightforward to assume that he’ll greater than make up the distinction between the 2 numbers.

If Turner is coming into the ultimate week of his Pink Sox tenure, he appears grateful for it.

“I’ve cherished it. It has been implausible,” 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 firstclass actually since Day 1. Once I acquired 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 daily to test on me.

“It’s been nice, proper as much as the highest with John [Henry] and Sam [Kennedy] and Tom [Werner].”