Justin Turner thought trade to Red Sox was a possibility

On Monday, former Red Sox infielder Justin Turner was traded from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Seattle Mariners for outfielder R.J. Schreck.

On Tuesday, Turner was in his new Mariner uniform at Fenway Park ready to make his debut for his new team, and he told the media during batting practice that he thought there was a chance he would be traded back to Boston once the Blue Jays’ front office told him he was on the trading block.

Turner said, “Once I had the conversation with Ross [Atkins] up there [in Toronto], basically saying, ‘Hey, you’re on an expiring contract. We’re gonna try to move you, it’s not a slam dunk but we’re trying to go somewhere,’ obviously the wheels start spinning, and we start thinking of, you know, what teams it could possibly be. The Red Sox were certainly one of the teams that I thought there was a chance.

“It didn’t happen, and I’m happy to be in Seattle.”

While Turner does not believe making his debut for Seattle in a ballpark where he has familiarity will impact his game one way or another, he does find it “a little weird” that there are more familiar faces in his old Boston clubhouse at the current moment than there are in his new one.

“Obviously this is a place I enjoyed playing,” said Turner. “I had an outstanding year last year, even though as a team we didn’t accomplish what we wanted. But I definitely enjoy playing here, at this field, in this environment.”

Last season was Turner’s first and only season with the Red Sox. The 39-year-old batted .276 with 23 home runs, a career-high 96 RBI, 31 doubles, and an .800 OPS. His 86 runs were the second highest total of his 16-year career.

Obviously Fenway Park was a place that agreed with Turner’s bat. But unfortunately for Red Sox fans, this trip to Boston for Turner is just a visit.