Tag: dodgers

How former Red Sox prospect Zach Ehrhard is faring with Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate

After writing about James Tibbs III last week, it feels like it would be a missed opportunity to not take note of the season Zach Ehrhard — the other outfield prospect the Red Sox traded to the Dodgers for Dustin May last July — is having so far.

Like Tibbs, Ehrhard received his first non-roster invite to major league spring training before breaking camp with Triple-A Oklahoma City in late March. In his inaugural taste of the minors’ highest level, the 23-year-old initially got off to a slow start at the plate with the Comets, batting .229/.307/.356 with two home runs and 22 RBIs over his first 35 games (163 plate appearances) through May 12.

On May 13, Ehrhard snapped a 22-game homerless drought with a solo shot against Albuquerque. That appears to have been a turning point. Including that contest, the right-handed hitter is slashing a stout .359/.490/.675 with nine home runs and 31 RBIs across his last 32 games (147 plate appearances). Three multi-homer outings are mixed in there as well.

In all, Ehrhard is hitting .288/.394/.490 with 17 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, 53 RBIs, 51 runs scored, nine stolen bases, 45 walks, and 64 strikeouts through 67 games (310 plate appearances) for Oklahoma City this season. He has posted a .262/.365/.396 line in 222 plate appearances against righties and a .357/.466/.743 line in 88 plate appearances against lefties.

Among 60 qualified hitters in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League entering play this week, Ehrhard ranks ninth in wRC+ (125), 13th in swinging-strike rate (7.2%), 14th in walk rate (14.5%), 16th in isolated power (.202), 17th in on-base percentage, 18th in OPS (.884) and wOBA (.396), 21st in batting average and slugging percentage, 28th in strikeout rate (20.6%), and 29th in line-drive rate (24.9%), according to FanGraphs.

Defensively, Ehrhard has seen playing time at all three outfield positions for Oklahoma City. The 5-foot-9, 190-pounder has made 31 starts in center, 17 starts in left, and 15 starts in right, recording seven assists and committing three errors in 134 total chances. He has also made three starts at DH.

A Florida native, Ehrhard was drafted by the Red Sox in the 13th round out of high school in 2021 but did not sign. Three years later, he was again drafted by the Red Sox, this time as a fourth-round selection (115th overall pick) out of Oklahoma State. He received a below-slot $500,000 signing bonus and made his professional debut at High-A Greenville in July 2024, then worked his way up to Double-A Portland last May. There, he had the chance to play with his older brother, Drew, before being dealt to the Dodgers for May alongside Tibbs in the moments leading up to the July 31 trade deadline.

In a similar fashion to Tibbs, Ehrhard ended his 2025 season on a high note with Double-A Tulsa and has seemingly taken advantage of the Dodgers’ player development program to elevate his profile. He is currently ranked as Los Angeles’ No. 21 prospect by Baseball America, which describes him as “the kind of player who does just enough right to carve out a big league career.”

With that, it would not come as a shock to see Ehrhard — who does not turn 24 until January — get his first crack at the majors in the near future. Whether that opportunity comes with the Dodgers or another club following this summer’s Aug. 3 trade deadline remains to be seen.

(Picture of Zach Ehrhard: Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)

Former Red Sox prospect James Tibbs III becomes first to reach 20 home runs in PCL this season

One year and one day after making his Red Sox organizational debut, Dodgers prospect James Tibbs III became the first hitter in the Pacific Coast League to reach the 20 home run mark this season.

Tibbs proved to be the hero for Triple-A Oklahoma City in Thursday’s matinee against Sacramento at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. After going hitless in his first four at-bats, the 23-year-old slugger led off the bottom of the 10th inning by belting a 360-foot two-run shot over the left field wall, driving in old friend Ryan Fitzgerald and himself to lift the Comets to a 5-4 win over the River Cats in walk-off fashion.

With Thursday’s late-game heroics, Tibbs became the eighth hitter across Minor League Baseball so far in 2026 to reach the 20-homer mark. The left-handed hitter also matched his home run total from last season, his first full professional campaign, doing so in 54 fewer games.

Overall, Tibbs is batting .297/.413/.602 with 17 doubles, two triples, 20 home runs, 61 RBIs, 63 runs scored, three stolen bases, 51 walks, and 83 strikeouts through 69 games (320 plate appearances) for Oklahoma City this season, his first at the Triple-A level. He is slashing .310/.404/.690 against lefties and .291/.416/.560 against righties in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Defensively, Tibbs has primarily been used at two positions by the Comets. The 5-foot-11, 201-pounder has made 25 starts at first base (where he has committed three errors in 216 chances) and 22 starts in right field (where he has committed four errors and recorded one assist in 45 chances). He has also made 20 starts at DH, including Thursday, and has prior experience in left field.

For as successful as Tibbs has been this season, it may come as a surprise that he is already with his third organization since being drafted in 2024. The Florida State product was taken 13th overall by the Giants that summer and signed for $4.7475 million, only to be traded to the Red Sox as the top prospect switching teams in last June’s Rafael Devers blockbuster. He then spent all of six-plus weeks in Boston’s system at Double-A Portland before being dealt once again ahead of July’s trade deadline, this time to the Dodgers alongside fellow minor leaguer Zach Ehrhard for Dustin May.

The Red Sox, for what it is worth, never seemed overly enamored by Tibbs in the first place. They had an opportunity to draft him with the 12th overall pick in 2024, but chose another college outfielder in Braden Montgomery (who was later dealt to the White Sox as part of the Garrett Crochet trade). Upon acquiring Tibbs from the Giants, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and Co. attempted to alter his swing (to no avail) and subsequently made him available to other teams in trade deadline talks. The Dodgers, looking to move on from a struggling free agent-to-be in May, happily obliged.

“Breslow’s willingness to include Tibbs to acquire a fringe rental starter surprised members of the Red Sox, Dodgers, and Giants front offices, sources with those teams said,” The Boston Globe’s Tim Healey wrote last week. “The Dodgers ‘couldn’t agree to that fast enough,’ a source said, when the Sox proposed giving up Tibbs and Ehrhard.”

As he explained to MLB.com’s Cole Weintraub last August, Tibbs worked with Double-A Tulsa hitting coach Blake Gailen to refine his swing and return to the form he showed at Florida State, where he earned 2024 ACC Player of the Year honors in his last season with the Seminoles. The adjustments have seemingly paid off. This year alone, he received his first invitation to major league spring training, made the All-Spring Breakout First Team, and has twice been named Pacific Coast League Player of the Week.

Tibbs, who does not turn 24 until October, is currently ranked by Baseball America as the Dodgers’ No. 13 prospect. If he were not positionally blocked, he likely would have made his major league debut by now. Instead, he now projects as one of the summer’s more intriguing trade chips as Los Angeles aims for a third straight World Series title, leaving the Red Sox to wonder what could have been.

(Picture of James Tibbs III: Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)

Former Red Sox prospect James Tibbs III named Pacific Coast League Player of the Week

Former Red Sox prospect James Tibbs III has been named the Pacific Coast League Player of the Week for the week of March 31-April 5, Minor League Baseball announced on Monday.

Tibbs, now a member of the Dodgers organization, had a monster week for Triple-A Oklahoma City in its series against Las Vegas. Appearing in all six games, the left-handed hitting 23-year-old went 10-for-25 (.400) with one double, five home runs, five RBIs, nine runs scored, four walks, and seven strikeouts. He doubled and homered on Tuesday, recorded two more hits on Wednesday, homered again on Thursday, singled and scored one run on Friday, went deep three times on Saturday, and drew one walk on Sunday.

Even after going hitless in Sunday’s series finale, Tibbs is still slashing a ridiculous .474/.535/1.184 with four doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 13 RBIs, 15 runs scored, five walks, and nine strikeouts through nine games (43 plate appearances) for Oklahoma City to begin the season. That includes a .500/.563/1.357 line against lefties and a .458/.519/1.083 line against righties, albeit in a limited sample.

Among those who have made at least 40 trips to the plate in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League early on in 2026, Tibbs ranks first in batting average, slugging percentage, OPS (1.719), isolated power (.711), wOBA (.716), and wRC+ (336), second in on-base percentage, and seventh in line-drive rate (24.1%), per FanGraphs.

On the other side of the ball, Tibbs has made seven starts in right field and two starts at first base for Oklahoma City thus far. At the former, the 5-foot-11, 201-pounder has recorded one assist and committed one error in 12 chances. At the latter, he has yet to commit an error across 18 defensive innings.

Needless to say, Tibbs is on quite a heater to begin his second full professional season. A lot has happened since the Georgia native was selected by the Giants with the 13th overall pick in the 2024 draft out of Florida State. Despite his first-round pedigree, Tibbs was traded to the Red Sox as part of last June’s Rafael Devers blockbuster. Then, after just six-plus weeks in Boston’s system, he was dealt again, this time to the Dodgers alongside fellow outfielder Zach Ehrhard for starter Dustin May on July 31.

While the Red Sox did not get much in the way of production from May, who struggled to a 5.40 ERA in 28 1/3 innings before being shut down with right elbow neuritis in September and leaving for the Cardinals via free agency in December, the Dodgers have to be pleased with what they have seen from Tibbs.

After taking part in his first major league camp as a non-roster invitee this spring, Tibbs opened the 2026 season ranked as Los Angeles’ No. 26 prospect by Baseball America. Even if not entirely sustainable, this strong start at Triple-A should help him climb the rankings and has put him firmly in position for a potential big league debut if the need arises for an otherwise loaded Dodgers team.

(Picture of James Tibbs III: Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)

Red Sox agree to minor league deal with former Dodgers farmhand Alec Gamboa

The Red Sox have agreed to terms on a minor league contract with free agent left-hander Alec Gamboa, as was first reported by Will Sammon of The Athletic. The deal includes an invitation to big league spring training and a salary of $925,000 if Gamboa makes it to the majors.

Gamboa, who turns 28 next month, has yet to reach the majors since being selected by the Dodgers in the ninth round of the 2019 draft out of Fresno City College. The California native spent parts of seven seasons in Los Angeles’ system, making 53 appearances (17 starts) in total for the club’s Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City before being released this past May.

After posting a 4.19 ERA (4.74 FIP) with 12 strikeouts to 12 walks in eight outings (two starts) and 19 1/3 innings for Oklahoma City in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League to begin the 2025 season, Gamboa was released on May 13 so that he could sign with the Lotte Giants of the Korean Baseball Organization. While overseas, the lefty forged a 3.58 ERA (3.47 FIP) with 117 strikeouts to 49 walks over 19 starts (108 innings) in which opponents batted .236 against him.

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, Gamboa featured a five-pitch mix with Oklahoma City earlier this year that consisted of a mid-90s four-seam fastball, an upper-80s slider, a lower-90s sinker, an upper-70s curveball, and a mid-80s changeup.

Though it remains to be seen how the Red Sox will deploy Gamboa, he likely projects as a left-handed relief option who will start the 2026 campaign in Triple-A Worcester’s bullpen. Like recent trade addition Tyler Samaniego, Gamboa should provide Boston with some much-needed depth in that area following the departures of Brennan Bernardino, Chris Murphy via trade, and Steven Matz via free agency.

Unlike Samaniego, however, Gamboa will not occupy a spot on Boston’s 40-man roster once his signing is made official.

(Picture of Alec Gamboa: John E. Moore III/Getty Images)

Which two prospects did Red Sox trade to Dodgers for Dustin May?

Before Thursday’s 6 p.m. trade deadline struck, the Red Sox added to their rotation depth by swinging a last-minute deal with the reigning World Series champion Dodgers.

In exchange for right-hander Dustin May, who is eligible for free agency at season’s end, Boston sent minor league first baseman/outfielder James Tibbs III and minor league outfielder Zach Ehrhard to Los Angeles. Fellow righty Tanner Houck was transferred to the 60-day injured list to make room for May on the 40-man roster, the club announced.

Tibbs’ tenure in the Red Sox organization ended up being short-lived. The 22-year-old was acquired from the Giants alongside right-hander Jordan Hicks, left-hander Kyle Harrison, and minor league righty Jose Bello in the blockbuster trade that sent star slugger Rafael Devers (and the remainder of his contract) to San Francisco on June 15. He was ranked by both Baseball America and SoxProspects.com as Boston’s No. 10 prospect, while MLB Pipeline had him at No. 5.

Originally selected by the Giants with the 13th overall pick in last summer’s draft out of Florida State, Tibbs (who received a $4,747,500 million signing bonus) was playing at the High-A level at the time of the trade but received a bump up to Double-A Portland upon switching organizations for the first time in his young career. The left-handed hitter then batted .207/.319/.267 with two doubles, one triple, one home run, seven RBIs, 16 runs scored, two stolen bases, 19 walks, and 39 strikeouts in 30 games (138 plate appearances) for the Sea Dogs.

Defensively, Tibbs saw playing time at three different positions in his brief stint with Portland. The 6-foot, 201-pound Georgia native made 17 starts in right field, five starts in left field, and five starts at first base, recording four assists and committing two errors in 69 total chances. He also made three starts at DH.

Ehrhard, on the other hand, was ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 29 prospect, while MLB Pipeline had him at No. 27 and SoxProspects.com had him at No. 30. Twice-drafted by the Red Sox, the 22-year-old signed with the club for $500,000 as a fourth-round selection coming out of Oklahoma State last summer. His older brother, Drew, had joined the organization as an undrafted free agent out of Division II Tampa in July 2023.

After struggling somewhat in his professional debut last season, Ehrhard hit the ground running out of camp this spring. The speedy right-handed hitter slashed a stout .342/.471/.459 with 10 doubles, one home run, 22 RBIs, 24 runs scored, seven stolen bases, 26 walks, and 27 strikeouts in 31 games (140 plate appearances) for High-A Greenville before receiving a promotion to Portland in late May. He then batted .227/.305/.412 with 13 doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 23 RBIs, 29 runs scored, 16 stolen bases, 20 walks, and 49 strikeouts in 58 games (237 plate appearances) for the Sea Dogs, leading up to Thursday’s trade.

On the other side of the ball, Ehrhard saw playing time at all three outfield positions between his stops in Greenville and Portland this year. With the Sea Dogs in particular, the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Florida native made 28 starts in right field, 20 starts in left field, and three starts in center, recording one assist without committing an error in 98 total defensive chances. He also made six starts at DH.

Tibbs, who does not turn 23 until October, and Ehrhard, who does not turn 23 until next January, have been assigned to the Dodgers’ Double-A affiliate in Tulsa, Okla., and will presumably report to the Drillers in the coming days. They join corner infielder Blaze Jordan, who was dealt to the Cardinals for lefty Steven Matz late Wednesday night, as the three prospects the Red Sox parted ways with at this year’s trade deadline.

“We obviously didn’t get to know James Tibbs as well as Blaze and Zach, but feel like they are really good baseball players,” Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow told reporters (including MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith) earlier Thursday evening. “They are going to go on to have successful careers. Each does something that we like, whether it’s James’ contact. Zach has started to hit the ball pretty hard, really good defender in the outfield. Blaze obviously has been performing really, really well in Triple-A this year.

“But you have to be willing to give up good players in order to execute deals. We obviously have found that out, and we’re willing to do so,” he continued. “But it felt like the additions of Matz and May were worthwhile, just given the position of our major league team right now.”

(Picture of Zach Ehrhard: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Who is Moises Bolivar? Red Sox traded infielder who can ‘hit the ball with authority’ to Dodgers for James Paxton

The Red Sox dipped into their 2024 international signing class in order to complete a trade with the Dodgers on Friday afternoon.

In exchange for bringing back veteran left-hander James Paxton, who was designated for assignment on Monday, Boston dealt minor-league infielder Moises Bolivar to Los Angeles, per a club announcement.

Bolivar, who turned 17 earlier this month, is in the middle of his first professional season in the Dominican Summer League after signing with the Red Sox as an international free agent in January. The native Venezuelan received a modest $25,000 bonus and was not viewed by publications such as SoxProspects.com as one of the top-ranked prospects in Boston’s farm system.

A right-handed hitter, Bolivar batted .270/.364/.423 with six doubles, one triple, three home runs, 19 RBIs, 17 runs scored, one stolen base, 17 walks, and 21 strikeouts in 31 games (132 plate appearances) for DSL Red Sox Blue. He clubbed a walk-off homer in his penultimate game with the rookie-level affiliate on Wednesday.

Among the 82 Dominican Summer League hitters who entered Friday with at least 130 plate appearances this season, Bolivar ranked 29th in strikeout rate (15.9 percent), 40th in batting average, 28th in slugging percentage, 42nd in OPS (.787), 25th in isolated power (.153), and 43rd in swinging-strike rate (24.5 percent), according to FanGraphs.

When asked by The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier for a brief assessment of Bolivar, one evaluator “praised his high contact rate and ability to hit the ball with authority.” SoxProspects.com’s director of scouting Ian Cundall added that Bolivar is aggressive at the plate but has “solid contact skills” and “rarely whiffs on pitches in the zone.”

On the other side of the ball, Bolivar served as DSL Red Sox Blue’s primary third baseman. The 6-foot, 175-pounder made 23 starts at the hot corner, committing 10 errors in 68 defensive chances over 187 2/3 innings. He also started three games at first base and five at DH.

Since the trade is official, the Dodgers have assigned Bolivar to one of their two Dominican Summer League affiliates (DSL LAD Mega). The Red Sox, meanwhile, transferred injured right-hander Bryan Mata to the 60-day injured list to make room for Paxton on the 40-man roster. They will need to make another move before adding him to the major league roster.

(Picture of James Paxton: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

Red Sox make Justin Turner signing official, designate Darwinzon Hernandez for assignment

The Red Sox have officially signed infielder Justin Turner to a one-year contract for the 2023 season that includes a player option for 2024, the club announced on Friday. In order to make room for Turner on the 40-man roster, reliever Darwinzon Hernandez was designated for assignment.

Turner agreed to a one-year deal with Boston last month after spending the previous nine seasons with the Dodgers. According to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, the 38-year-old will receive a base salary of $8.3 million in 2023 and will have the chance to earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses. If Turner exercises his player option, he will lock himself into a $13.4 million salary for 2024. If he declines it, he would receive $6.7 million in the form of a buyout and become a free agent again next winter.

All told, Turner is guaranteed to make at least $15 million in 2023. If he returns via the player option in 2024, the deal would be worth $21.7 million over the next two seasons and would max out at $22.7 million if he hits on his incentive bonuses. For luxury tax purposes, the average annual value of Turner’s contract comes out to $10.85 million, per The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier.

Turner became a free agent in November after the Dodgers declined his $16 million club option for 2023. In 128 games for Los Angeles last year, the right-handed hitter batted .278/.350/.438 with 36 doubles, 13 home runs, 81 RBIs, 61 runs scored, three stolen bases, 50 walks, and 89 strikeouts over 532 plate appearance. From May 10 through the end of the season, he slashed .306/.388/.488 with 12 homers and 68 runs driven in across 102 games.

In signing with the Red Sox, Turner is expected to take over as the club’s primary designated hitter after J.D. Martinez left for the Dodgers in free agency. The 5-foot-11, 202-pounder could also serve as a right-handed hitting complement to Rafael Devers and Triston Casas — who both hit from the left side of the plate — at third base (his natural position) and first base, respectively.

Turner, who does not turn 39 until November, was originally selected by Cincinnati in the seventh round of the 2006 amateur draft out of Cal State Fullerton. After bouncing around between the Reds, Orioles, and Mets organizations, the Long Beach native found a home with the Dodgers in 2014. During his decorated tenure in Los Angeles, Turner was selected to two All-Star teams (2017 and 2021) and won his first World Series title in 2020. He was also the recipient of the 2022 Roberto Clemente Award.

Hernandez, on the other hand, lost his spot on Boston’s 40-man roster in order to accommodate the addition of Turner. The 26-year-old left-hander was once considered to be one of the top pitching prospects in the Red Sox farm system but has struggled to find his footing on a consistent basis since debuting in 2019.

This past season, Hernandez allowed 16 earned runs over seven appearances (6 2/3 innings) at the major-league level. With Triple-A Worcester, the Venezuelan-born southpaw posted a 5.73 ERA with 51 strikeouts to 27 walks over 23 outings (one start) spanning 33 innings of work. For his big-league career, he owns a lifetime 5.06 ERA in 85 1/3 innings.

Hernandez does not turn 27 until December and still has one minor-league option remaining, so he could be of interest to other teams in need of relief help. With that being said, the Red Sox will have the next seven days to either trade, release, or waive Hernandez and keep him in the organization as a non-40-man roster player.

(Picture of Justin Turner: Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)

Red Sox agree to deal with longtime Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner, per report

The Red Sox have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with veteran infielder Justin Turner for the 2023 season, as was first reported by ESPN’s Joon Lee and Jeff Passan. The deal comes with a player option for 2024 as well.

According to The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier, Turner will receive $8.3 million in 2023 and would be in line to earn $13.4 million in 2024 if he exercises his player option.

Turner, 38, became a free agent last month after the Dodgers declined his $16 million club option for 2023. The right-handed hitter is coming off a 2022 campaign in which he batted .278/.350/.438 with 36 doubles, 13 home runs, 81 RBIs, 61 runs scored, three stolen bases, 50 walks, and 89 strikeouts over 128 games (532 plate appearances) for Los Angeles.

After an 0-for-3 showing against the Pirates on May 9 of this year, Turner found himself slashing just .168/.226/.242 with five extra-base hits through his first 26 games of the season. From May 10 onward, though, he turned a corner offensively and hit a stout .306/.380/.488 with 32 doubles, 12 homers, 68 RBIs, and 52 runs scored across 102 games (426 plate appearances) to close out the season.

A native of Long Beach, Turner was originally selected by the Reds in the seventh round of the 2006 amateur draft out of Cal State Fullerton. He was traded to the Orioles in December 2008 and then made his big-league debut with Baltimore the following September. Turner appeared in a total of just 17 games for the O’s before being claimed off waivers by the Mets in May 2010.

In parts of four seasons (2010-2013) with New York, Turner compiled a .267/.327/.371 slash line in 297 games while serving as a utility infielder. He was non-tendered by the Mets in Dec. 2013 and was a highly sought-after minor-league free agent. The Red Sox, then under general manager Ben Cherington, made a push to sign Turner, who ultimately inked a minors pact with his hometown Dodgers.

The rest, as they say, is history. Turner gradually emerged as one of the top third baseman in the National League in his time with Los Angeles. Over nine seasons and 1,075 games in a Dodgers uniform, Turner slashed .296/.375/.490 with 235 doubles, seven triples, 156 home runs, 574 RBIs, 568 runs scored, 33 stolen bases, 398 walks, and just 647 strikeouts across 4,220 trips to the plate. He was an All-Star in 2017 and 2021 and played a key role in the Dodgers’ triumph over the Rays in the 2020 World Series.

Defensively, Turner regularly served as the Dodgers’ everyday third baseman in his decorated tenure with the club. This past season, however, the 5-foot-11, 202-pounder made 62 appearances at designated hitter and posted a .729 OPS in that role. While patrolling the hot corner, he accrued one defensive run saved and was worth negative-two outs above average over 574 1/3 innings at the position.

Off the field, Turner is known for his charitable work. He has been nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award on five separate occasions and took home Major League Baseball’s most prestigious individual honor for the first time last month. Turner and his wife, Kourtney, founded the Justin Turner Foundation in 2016 to help support homeless veterans, children (and their families) battling life-altering illnesses, and various youth baseball organizations.

By agreeing to a deal with the Red Sox, Turner is now reunited with former Dodgers teammates Enrique Hernandez, Alex Verdugo, Kenley Jansen, and Chris Martin in Boston. With 14 years of major-league experience under his belt, Turner brings with him a disciplined approach, a swing that is suited for Fenway Park, and valuable leadership skills.

Given that he turns 39 next November, there will probably be some concerns regarding Turner’s durability. He was sidelined for a week back in August due to an abdominal strain and has also dealt with hamstring issues in the past. With that in mind, Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom and Co. likely view Turner as the team’s primary designated hitter in 2023 following the departure of J.D. Martinez in free agency. He could also serve as a right-handed hitting complement to Rafael Devers and Triston Casas — who both hit from the left side of the plate) at third and first base, respectively.

Turner becomes the second key position player Boston has added in free agency this winter, as he joins the likes of Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida. The Red Sox are not done when it comes to making offseason additions, though, as they are still looking to upgrade at multiple positions.

(Picture of Justin Turner: Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

Former Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez agrees to one-year, $10 million deal with Dodgers, per report

Red Sox free agent J.D. Martinez has agreed to a one-year contract with the Dodgers, according to FanSided’s Robert Murray. The New York Post’s Jon Heyman reports that Martinez will receive $10 million in 2023.

Martinez, 35, spent the last five seasons with the Red Sox after originally signing a five-year, $110 million deal with Boston in February 2018. Then-president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski wanted to inject some life into a lineup that scored the sixth-most runs in the American League in 2017 and he got exactly that in Martinez, who he already knew from his days with the Tigers.

In his debut season with the Sox, Martinez made a strong first impression by batting .330/.402/.629 with 37 doubles, two triples, 43 home runs, a league-leading 130 RBIs, 111 runs scored, six stolen bases, 69 walks, and 146 strikeouts over 150 games (649 plate appearances). He played a key role in helping Boston cap off a historic campaign with a World Series title and became the first player to ever receive two Silver Slugger Awards at multiple positions (designated hitter and outfielder) in the same season.

Martinez built off the success he enjoyed in 2018 by putting together another impressive season at the plate in 2019. The veteran slugger slashed .304/.383/.557 with 33 doubles, two triples, 36 homers, 105 RBIs, 98 runs scored, two stolen bases, 72 walks, and 138 strikeouts across 146 games (657 plate appearances). He finished 21st in AL MVP voting and elected not to exercise the first of three opt-outs in his contract that winter.

The COVID-shortened 2020 season was one to forget for Martinez, whose usual in-game routine of watching film was disrupted by Major League Baseball’s virus-related dugout protocols. The right-handed hitter struggled to the tune of a .213/.291/.389 line with 16 doubles, seven homers, 27 RBIs, 22 runs scored, one stolen base, 22 walks, and 59 strikeouts over 54 games (237 plate appearances). It came as no surprise when he once again decided against opting out of his deal that November.

Martinez, like the Red Sox, bounced back last season. In the process of being named an All-Star for the third time in four years with Boston, Martinez hit .286/.349/.518 with a leage-leading 42 doubles, three triples, 28 home runs, 99 runs driven in, 92 runs scored, 55 walks, and 15o strikeouts over 148 games (634 plate appearances) for a team that was two wins away from a World Series berth.

After opting into the final year of his contract, Martinez got off to another hot start in 2022. Towards the end of May, he was batting a stout .369/.429/.573 through his first 40 games. Though his power numbers were down (five home runs in 177 plate appearances), Martinez was named to the AL All-Star team as a reserve.

Back issues hindered Martinez during the second half of the season. He was not moved at the trade deadline in August and instead batted .233/.301/.400 after the All-Star break to finish the year with a .274/.341/.448 slash line to go along with 43 doubles, one triple, 16 home runs, 62 RBIs, 146 runs scored, 52 walks, and 145 strikeouts over 139 games spanning 596 trips to the plate. In what would turn out be his final home game in a Red Sox uniform, Martinez went deep twice in 6-3 win over the Rays at Fenway Park.

Although the Red Sox did not extend a qualifying offer to Martinez last month, they remained interested in a reunion. Rather than come back to Boston, though, the Boras Corp. client will now reunite with former Red Sox teammate Mookie Betts and former hitting instructor Robert Van Scoyoc in Los Angeles.

Martinez, who turns 36 in August, served strictly as a designated hitter this past season and has not seen any playing time in the outfield since 2021. That being said, he should be a welcomed addition to a Dodgers lineup that has lost the likes of Trea Turner, Cody Bellinger, and Joey Gallo in free agency.

Looking back at his time with the Red Sox, Martinez is undoubtedly one of the greatest free-agent signings in franchise history. In 637 career games with Boston, Martinez slashed .292/.363/.526 with 130 homers and 423 RBIs. He won two Silver Sluggers and was named an All-Star in four of his five seasons with the club.

With Martinez headed west, the Sox have now seen one-third of their 2022 Opening Day lineup leave in free agency this winter. In addition to Martinez, shortstop Xander Bogaerts has signed an 11-year, $280 million contract with the Padres while catcher Christian Vazquez inked a three-year, $30 million deal with the Twins. Nathan Eovaldi, who started against Gerrit Cole and the Yankees on that faithful April afternoon, remains unsigned.

How the Red Sox go about replacing Martinez in the lineup next season should be interesting. Masataka Yoshida figures to see the lion’s share of his playing time come in left field but could slot in at designated hitter from time to time as well. It seems likely that chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom and manager Alex Cora will utilize a “DH-by committee” approach as opposed to committing to just one player as they have in years past. That would allow for more versatility on the roster while also giving more players the opportunity to get off their feet by not playing the field on certain days.

(Picture of Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox agree to two-year, $32 million deal with veteran closer Kenley Jansen, per report

The Red Sox have agreed to terms on a two-year, $32 million contract with free agent reliever Kenley Jansen, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal — which is pending a physical — would pay Jansen $16 million in both 2023 and 2024, per The Boston’s Globe Alex Speier.

Jansen, 35, is a veteran of 13 big-league seasons who is best known for his time in Los Angeles. After spending the first 12 years of his career in Los Angeles, the right-hander signed a one-year, $16 million deal with the Braves back in March.

In 65 relief appearances for Atlanta, Jansen posted a 3.38 ERA and 3.21 FIP to go along with 85 strikeouts to 22 walks over 64 innings of work. He also recorded a National League-best 41 saves in 48 opportunities and allowed one run in two outings against the Phillies in the National League Division Series.

A native of Curacao, Jansen originally signed with the Dodgers as a catcher in November 2004. He spent the first 4 1/2 seasons of his minor-league career behind the plate before transitioning to the mound midway through the 2009 campaign. The following July, Jansen made his major-league debut for Los Angeles.

It did not take long for Jansen to establish himself as one of the top relievers in baseball. He finished seventh in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2011 and registered his first season of 25 or more saves in 2012. From 2016-2018, the righty forged a 2.07 ERA and 2.29 FIP across 205 outings (208 2/3 innings) and made three consecutive All-Star teams. His 350 saves in a Dodgers uniform are the most in the franchise’s storied history.

Between Los Angeles and Atlanta, Jansen owns a lifetime 2.46 ERA and 2.44 FIP with 1,107 strikeouts to 226 walks over 766 relief appearances spanning 769 innings pitched. He ranks eighth in American/National League history with 391 career saves. In 10 separate trips to the postseason during that stretch, Jansen produced a 2.29 ERA over 59 total outings out of the bullpen.

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, Jansen operates with a three-pitch mix that consists of an elite cutter (his primary weapon), a sinker, and a cutter. This past season, he ranked in the 98th percentile of the league in expected batting average (.169), the 93rd percentile in expected slugging percentage (.292), the 93rd percentile in strikeout rate (32.7 percent), the 95th percentile in fastball spin, and the 93rd percentile in extension, according to Baseball Savant.

Jansen, who does not turn 36 until next September, does come with some concerns. Earlier this summer, he spent more than two weeks on the injured list due to an irregular heartbeat, which is something that has sidelined him in the past. He has had two cardiac ablation procedures (2012 and 2018) to combat this issue.

With the addition of Jansen, the Red Sox have made it clear that bolstering the bullpen was one of the club’s top priorities this winter after Boston relievers finished with the second-worst ERA (4.59) in the American League this season. Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom and Co. have already signed left-handed reliever Joely Rodriguez to a one-year contract last month and agreed to terms on a two-year $17.5 million deal with righty Chris Martin last week.

Assuming he passes his physical, Jansen will become the first established closer the Red Sox have had since Craig Kimbrel left the club after winning the World Series in 2018. Jansen, Rodriguez, and Martin are slated to join a bullpen mix that is highlighted by the likes of Matt Barnes, Tanner Houck, John Schreiber heading into 2023.

(Picture of Kenley Jansen: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)