Turner turns down option with Red Sox, Boston declines option with Kluber; both become free agents

Updated Nov. 4, 2023 4:53 p.m. ET

Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) — Justin Turner declined his $13.4 million player option with Boston, and the Red Sox turned down their $11 million option on right-hander Corey Kluber.

Both players became free agents.

Turner gets a $6.7 million buyout, completing a contract he agreed to in January that paid $16 million, including performance bonuses. The 38-year-old hit .276 with 23 homers and 96 RBIs in his one season with the Red Sox. He was primarily a designated hitter but also played first, second and third.

A two-time All-Star, Turmer has a .288 average with 187 homers ad 759 RBIs in 15 major league seasons with Baltimore (2009-10), the New York Mets (2010-13), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2014-22) and the Red Sox.

Kluber, 37, was 3-6 with a 7.04 ERA in nine starts and six relief appearances under a $10 million, one-year deal. He was Boston's opening day starter but was dropped from the rotation in late May and didn't make a big league appearance after June 20 because of right shoulder inflammation.

A three-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young Award winner, Kluber is 116-77 with a 3.44 ERA in 13 big league seasons with Cleveland (2011-19), Texas (2020), the New York Yankees (2021), Tampa Bay (2022) and Boston. He pitched a no-hitter for the Yankees at Texas on May 19, 2021.

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