4 Realistic Red Sox Trade Deadline Targets

2. Justin Turner, INF/DH, Toronto Blue Jays

Corner infield isn't an area of need for the Red Sox at the moment, but a Turner return to Boston could help the lineup remedy their aforementioned struggles against left-handed pitching.

The Red Sox could platoon Yoshida as a DH against right-handed pitching and Turner against left-handed pitching (assuming the healthy return of Triston Casas at first base). Steve Pearce was acquired at the trade deadline in 2018 as a platoon bat to match up against LHP, and that trade worked out alright for the Red Sox as Pearce went on to win the World Series MVP.

Turner is hitting righties .212/.331/.310 but hitting lefties .295./.353/.459. Meanwhile, Yoshida is hitting righties .300/.368/.400 and lefties .140/.196/.279. DH’ing Turner against lefties and Yoshida against righties feels like the optimal arrangement.

Turner reportedly had every intention of returning to Boston this past offseason, saying that it was a "no-brainer" in his head. Peter Gammons reported that "Turner and his representatives reached out, but could not get the Red Sox interested enough to engage in talks." It's very possible that the 16-year vet could be turned off by how he was treated on his way out of the door, so perhaps that's an obstacle for a reunion.

In his lone season in Boston, he hit .276 with 23 home runs and 96 RBI as a steady presence in the middle of the Sox lineup.

Turner is a World Series champion and has appeared in 86 playoff games. As a pending free agent and experienced playoff performer, he is a prime candidate to address Boston's struggles against LHP.