Red Sox Reportedly 'Aren't Ruling Out' Return Of Fan-Favorite Slugger

It sounds like there still is a chance a former Red Sox fan-favorite could return

The Boston Red Sox have a lot of work they still need to do this offseason.

To this point, the biggest move the Red Sox have made this offseason is trading away outfielder Alex Verdugo. The free agent market has been extremely slow to this point likely because two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and young phenom Yoshinobu Yamamoto have not signed a contract yet. Once they do, things are expected to heat up.

Boston needs to make multiple additions this offseason if it wants to make it back to the postseason. The Red Sox have been linked to every big-name player in some way to this point. Boston mainly needs to fix the starting rotation, but also needs to fill the designated hitter spot.

Two-time All-Star Justin Turner filled the role well last season, but now is a free agent. There have been rumblings that he would sign elsewhere, but there still reportedly is a chance he could return to Boston, according to The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey and Chad Jennings.

"(Craig Breslow) also said the Red Sox are maintaining contact with Justin Turner's agents and given the need for a right-handed bat aren't ruling out a return," McCaffrey and Jennings said. "'It would certainly be silly to close off communication,' he said."

Turner would be a solid player to bring back into the fold but would be just a short-term fix. He is 39 years old and although he was impressive last season, is nearing the end of his big league career. Boston has made it known that it is looking for flexibility from the designated hitter spot as well so a move still should be considered unlikely with Turner. 

He always could return, but it's unclear at this point.

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