“You hear that from a lot of guys, how tough free agency is,” [Turner] added. “I think everyone has this picture in their mind of what they want or how they think it is gonna go. It just never really goes according to plan.”
Indeed, staying with the Dodgers had been Plan A for Turner entering the offseason.
. . .
After failing to bridge the gap with Turner, who was seeking multiyear offers . . . the Dodgers instead
signed J.D. Martinez to a one-year, $10-million contract on Dec. 17 — effectively finding a cheaper option to replace Turner’s veteran right-handed bat in a predominantly designated hitting role.
. . .
He’s eager for his opportunity in Boston, where he was recruited by other former Dodgers (Kiké Hernández chief among them) as well as New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who texted Turner to extol Boston’s culture as a sports town.
Turner also is happy to be with another storied franchise and joked during an introductory press conference this month that he’s looking forward to seeing would-be fly outs turn into doubles off the Green Monster in Fenway Park.
“I’m just excited to be part of their organization,” Turner reiterated Sunday.
. . .
“I don’t think it does anyone any good to go back and speculate as to what happened,” he said. “I don’t want anything to blow back or taint the last nine years that I had and everything we accomplished.”