Red Sox GM Brian O'Halloran on Boston's quiet trade deadline
Justin Turner has been a critical part of the Red Sox' offense this season, leading the team in runs scored (66) and ranking second in home runs (17) and RBIs (71). He has also chipped in defensively at first, second and third base.
His name had occasionally popped up in trade rumors when it looked like the Red Sox might be sellers, but dealing Turner seemed unlikely in recent weeks as Boston climbed back into the playoff race.
Apparently it still almost happened, though. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Red Sox had "extensive discussions" with the Marlins about a trade that would have sent Turner to Miami. The Marlins believed they were "close to acquiring Turner," Rosenthal adds.
Rosenthal says that what the Red Sox would have gotten in return is unknown, but notes that the Marlins are "deep in controllable starting pitching," which is something Chaim Bloom and the Red Sox were targeting. Ultimately the deal fell through and the Marlins pivoted to trades for Josh Bell and Jake Burger instead.
Given the note about "controllable starting pitching," it's possible that trading away Turner wouldn't have been an all-out sell job, but rather a baseball trade to improve the starting rotation.
Still, it's hard to imagine any Turner trade would have gone over well in the Red Sox clubhouse given not just how good the 38-year-old veteran has been, but also what he's meant as a team leader.
It does seem that Bloom was at least open to the possibility of selling if his prices were met, though. Rosenthal also reported on Tuesday that the Dodgers talked to the Red Sox about starting pitcher James Paxton, although the Boston Globe's Alex Speier added that there was little traction there because Boston's price was so high.
On the other hand, it appears Bloom also had at least some interest in one of the biggest names on the market, with Rosenthal reporting that the Red Sox were one of the teams that "pursued a deal" for Justin Verlander, whom the Mets ultimately traded back to his old team, the Astros. Rosenthal doesn't specify whether Boston came particularly close and also notes that Verlander may not have waived his no-trade clause for anyone other than Houston.
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