Justin Turner Reportedly Agrees To $22 Million Deal With Boston Red Sox

Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers — The Boston Red Sox may have signed Justin Turner as insurance in the event they cannot close a deal with Rafael Devers. Getty Images | Rob Carr

KEY POINTS

The Red Sox have reportedly come to terms with Justin Turner
Turner may end up playing as a designated hitter
Turner's reunion with Enrique Hernandez and Kenley Jansen beckons once the deal is made official

Justin Turner appears headed to a new team with reports that he has agreed to a two-year deal with the Boston Red Sox.

The 38-year-old third baseman has allegedly agreed to a two-year deal worth $22 million with the Red Sox according to CBS Sports.

The deal also includes an opt-out for Turner in 2023, but it has yet to be confirmed by Boston.

Once confirmed, it will be interesting what the Red Sox plan to do with Turner.

The two-time All-Star has spent most of his career at third base. However, it does not appear he will unseat Rafael Devers for the position.

Rather, Turner could likely see more action as the designated hitter of the Red Sox.

It is now a void for the Red Sox following the exit of J.D. Martinez, who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers—ironically Turner's former team.

Martinez agreed to a one-year deal with the Dodgers worth $10 million.

However, this is only a scenario and there remains a chance that Turner could be insured in case Devers walks per Chad Jennings of The Athletic.

He remains a trade candidate and such remains a possibility considering the 26-year-old and Boston remain far apart in contract extension talks.

Devers is a year away from free agency, in a similar situation that Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts were in during recent years.

It would be fair to note that the Red Sox failed to get anything done with Bogaerts and Betts.

Hence, the possibility of seeing Devers getting traded is high.

With that in mind, there is a possibility that Turner is seen as a contingency plan just in case the inevitable happens.

The 2020 World Series champion third baseman hit .278/.350/.438 with 13 home runs in 128 games this past season, including .340/.412/.514 in 58 games after July 1.

After finishing with a 78-84 record in the AL East last MLB season, it will be interesting if the changes will boost the Red Sox's chances next season.

They've been to the postseason just once since beating Turner's Dodgers in the 2018 World Series.

Once confirmed, the deal would also reunite Turner with his former Dodgers teammates, Enrique Hernández and Kenley Jansen.