Per Jon Morosi on MLB Network, the Phillies are the front runners to sign free agent All-Star shortstop Trea Turner.
The Phillies are pursuing a star
Turner is 29 and won’t turn 30 until June 2023. He slashed .298/.343/.466 with 21 home runs, 101 runs scored, 100 RBIs, and 27 steals in 160 games for in 2022.
If the Phils were to come to terms with Turner, he would be returning to the NL East. He spent a little over a full season with the Dodgers after being traded from the Nationals alongside now-Mets righty Max Scherzer.
Turner has been linked to Philadelphia for some time now. two of his former teammates with the Nationals- Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber are now with the team.
How Turner would fit in
With the Phillies declining Jean Segura’s player option for 2023, there is a hole in the middle infield. Bryson Stott is the current shortstop after the club cut ties with Didi Gregorious in August.
Turner would be leading off for the Phightins, giving 2022 leadoff man Kyle Schwarber an opportunity to slide down in the lineup and have more RBI situations. His elite speed and top-tier bat at the top of the order is something the Phillies haven’t had since Jimmy Rollins was at the top of the order.
If Turner wants to play shortstop, Stott would be able to slide over to second base rather easily.
The Phillies were two wins away from their third World Championship in 2022. John Middleton is not hiding he is willing to do whatever it takes to get his trophy back. Adding another All-Star to an already rather stacked Phils’ lineup may just land them on a parade float in November 2023.
Turner would likely cost the Phillies around $30 million a year for 6 plus years.
Photo Credit: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire
