Stark: There are some ‘rumblings’ that Trea Turner wants to play in Philadelphia
For a second consecutive offseason, the MLB free agent class features yet another group of star shortstops. The Phillies, who have a vacancy in the middle infield with Jean Segura’s contract expiring, are likely to be players in this market.
We’ll have a better idea on what the Phillies’ top priorities are when Dave Dombrowski addresses the media in Philadelphia at some point in the next few days, but rumors are already swirling around the Phillies and former Nationals and Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner.
It’s been reported multiple times that Turner, 29, prefers to return to the east coast and play closer to his home in Florida. Bryce Harper has called Turner, a former Nationals teammate, his favorite player in the league.
While appearing on 97.5 the Fanatic, Jayson Stark of The Athletic made an interesting comment on Turner and his level of interest in coming to Philadelphia.
The Athletic’s Jayson Stark on Trea Turner during an appearance on 97.5 the Fanatic.“…There is some interesting rumblings that he wants to be here. So, I would watch that. And with the new rules next season, the way they were constructed this year, it’s going to be hard to win with a team like that. It is going to be harder to get by if you are not really athletic, especially up the middle. And Turner is the perfect player for how teams will need to play. I think they will be very aggressive on him, and on the shortstop market.”
You can also make the argument that the Phillies have been successful in acquiring their top free agent target in each of the last four offseasons from Harper in 2018-2019, Zack Wheeler in 2019-2020, J.T. Realmuto in 2021-2021 and Kyle Schwarber in 2021-2022.
Add on the fact that the Phillies have found success in building a core made up of former stars from NL East rivals and it all makes sense.
Turner, who is second only to Aaron Judge in FanGraphs WAR among all position players in the last three seasons, slashed .298/.343/.446 with 21 home runs, 100 RBIs and 27 stolen bases across 160 games played in 2022. A two-time All-Star, Turner won the NL batting title in 2021 and finished in the top five in MVP voting that same season.
He’s been one of the best players in baseball over the last few years and he plays a position of need for the Phillies, who could move shortstop Bryson Stott to second base in the event Turner is signed.
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