Dodgers insider ignites dreams of Justin Turner reunion with trade deadline tweet

Max Muncy's return to the Dodgers keeps getting pushed further and further back. On Thursday, he went on Foul Territory and gave an update on his status, which basically just amounted to, "I don't know, and I don't have a timetable."

He did say, explicitly, "We've had some really good days lately," but that neither he nor the team want to rush the process and put him back on the field before he's ready and risk exacerbating the problem.

That's fair, but it almost certainly makes third base a top concern for the Dodgers at the trade deadline, and options seem few and far between. The Rays' Isaac Paredes could be available. Luis Rengifo might've been an option if he hadn't gotten hurt earlier this month. The Dodgers could maybe look at the Reds' Jeimer Candelario, but his bat has been lacking this season and the Reds could still be in the Wild Card picture. The Dodgers can provide monetary relief there, though, if the Reds would rather cut bait.

Dodgers writer and Dodgers Territory host Alanna Rizzo named another option as well, a familiar face and fan favorite in LA. After Muncy's update, she tweeted at Justin Turner, asking, "You busy, bro?"

For more news and rumors, check out MLB insider Robert Murray's work on The Baseball Insiders podcast, and join the discord to get the inside scoop as we near the July 30 MLB trade deadline.

Alanna Rizzo proposes Justin Turner-Dodgers reunion as a solution to LA's third base woes

Turner left LA at the end of 2022 and hasn't spent much time at third base since then. In his one year in Boston, he mostly served as the Red Sox's DH, with occasional trips to first and even fewer at second and third. It's been more of the same with the Blue Jays this season, and he's been struggling through one of the worst offensive seasons of his career. Through 80 games, he's batting .231 with a .680 OPS.

So putting him at third base in LA wouldn't be much of a defensive upgrade from Muncy, if it was an upgrade at all, but Muncy's bat has been the biggest part of his game and the thing the Dodgers have been missing all the while. While Turner hasn't looked great this season, putting him on a team that still has a couple of his compatriots from the Dodgers' last World Series season could spark something again.

The Dodgers willingly let Turner walk in 2022, but there don't seem to be any hard feelings. Trading for him again could be a perfect solution: when Muncy returns, platoon him with Turner at third, dump Chris Taylor and/or Kiké Hernández, and watch the offense reap the benefit. It would also be a huge win for LA fans who still have a lot of fondness for JT.