BOSTON — To Justin Turner, Kiké Hernández is more than just a teammate he has played with in two places. Hernández was the lead recruiter in the efforts to bring Turner to Boston over the winter and Turner’s spring training roommate. The two are incredibly close friends.
It makes sense, then, that Tuesday’s news that Hernández had been dealt back to the Dodgers for two right-handed relievers hit Turner harder than most. Though Turner was happy that his friend was returning to a place he loves, it was still tough to see Hernández go in the hours before Boston’s 7-1 win over the Braves.
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“It was a tough day today,” Turner said. “Obviously, Kiké is a big part of the reason that I’m wearing this uniform right now. Texted me constantly asking me to come over here. Then this happens today.
“I think we all understand it’s a business and things happen. Definitely a little bittersweet, just knowing that he’s getting an opportunity to go back to L.A. where he thrived, back there. But I know we’re definitely gonna miss him.”
The Hernández news wasn’t a surprise as the utility man had fallen out of a prominent role after struggling on both sides of the ball all season and was the odd man out in a roster crunch that guaranteed roster spots to Yu Chang, Christian Arroyo and Pablo Reyes. Still, the trade was somewhat jarring to Turner on a personal level.
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Hernández and Turner became fast friends during their shared time with the Dodgers from 2015 to 2020 and even won a World Series together in Hernández’s last season in Los Angeles before signing a two-year deal with the Red Sox in Jan. 2021. In their final years as teammates there, they were the beneficiaries of multiple aggressive deadline deals by the Dodgers, who acquired Yu Darvish in 2017 and Manny Machado a year later. Living through those experiences has informed the 38-year-old Turner, who has never been traded mid-season, on how to approach this time of year.
“This is an exciting time of year because of the trade deadline and the rumors,” Turner said. “I think one aspect that gets missed by a lot of people is usually when you’re bringing someone in or you’re making a trade, that also means someone’s going somewhere else as well. It’s a tricky situation, depending on who you’re trading for and getting excited, but it always means someone currently on the team’s probably going somewhere else. As exciting as it can be, it’s also hard for a lot of people, a lot of players, a lot of friends, a lot of families when they’re the ones being told they’re getting moved.
“I think I probably feel it more every year that goes by. You develop relationships in here, you get to know guys and, obviously Kiké is a different situation. I’ve known him for a long time. He’s one of my best friends in this game. But with anybody, when they have to pack up their locker and change uniforms, it’s tough.”
Turner hopes that the Red Sox, who improved to 54-47 with Tuesday’s win and have played their way back into contention, continue adding pieces before the Aug. 1 trade deadline but acknowledged more subtractions from the big league roster are possible. The team could look to deal from its surplus of outfielders (Adam Duvall is an obvious trade candidate) or even sell high on someone like Nick Pivetta.
“It’s a weird time of year,” Turner said. “We know where we’re at, right in the hunt, not too far back in the wild card and thinking there might be a few additions that could really help us. At the same time, additions mean subtractions. The guys who are in this clubhouse, as exciting as it may be, it always comes at the expense of someone who’s already in the room. It’s tough. I know fans love it and they want to see us make a big splash and a big move. But the human aspect of it, for the guys in this room, can be tough.”
Hernández was informed about a potential trade well before it became official minutes ahead of Tuesday’s scheduled first pitch. While Hernández didn’t get the chance to address the media before leaving Boston but Turner said his friend was emotional throughout the day.
“He’s got enough stuff to fill, probably, four apartments over there,” Turner said. “I think getting his stuff together and packing and organizing kept him busy. I know he was catching a flight tonight. He was trying to hold back some emotions. I’ve actually talked to him since he left, and was just trying to hold it together here.
“He’s definitely grateful for his time as a Red Sox. He loved being a Red Sox. He loved playing here. He loved the city, so I know he’s sad to have to leave.”
