With the Houston Astros being crowned World Series champions, MLB free agency began this week. For the Los Angeles Dodgers, that amounted to 10 players no longer being under contract, including Trea Turner, who is widely perceived as one of the best options on the open market.
Turner is coming off another successful season with the Dodgers, batting .298/.343/.466 with 39 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs and 100 RBI. The 29-year-old earned a second career All-Star Game selection and finished second in baseball to Freddie Freeman (199) with 194 hits.
While the Dodgers would like to re-sign Turner, he is expected to draw widespread interest and may prefer joining a team on the East Coast. Turner grew up in Florida and spent the first six-and-a-half seasons of his career with the Washington Nationals.
Turner became close friends with Bryce Harper during that time and is said to be open to a reunion on the Philadelphia Phillies, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network:
“First off, the Phillies, for a variety of reasons a lot of people here believe the Phillies are perhaps the most likely landing spot of all for Trea Turner. Let’s begin with his close friendship with Bryce Harper, going back to their time with the Nationals. That is one element here, where Trea would love to play with Bryce again.”
Turner and Harper were teammates on the Nationals from 2015-18, and though they didn’t win a championship together, they still helped the team capture two National League East titles during that time.
Turner went on to win the World Series the following year, while Harper brought the Phillies to within two victories of a title this season.
As the Phillies look to regroup, Turner could be the missing piece that puts them over the top in 2023. Harper would certainly be open to the team adding the All-Star shortstop, as he previously said he was excited to see how his free agency plays out.
The exclusive window for teams to negotiate with their own free agents ends at 2 p.m. PT on Thursday, November 10.
Trea Turner praised Bryce Harper
When Harper was in the midst of a historic stretch at Dodger Stadium earlier this year, Turner couldn’t help but marvel at his ability.
After the Dodgers were defeated by the Phillies on May 14, Turner said Harper “is the best player in the world” when on a hot streak.
“I watched it for years over there (with Nationals), but since he’s been with the Phillies the last few years, you feel like he has a bad year and then you look up his numbers and he’s got a .900 OPS and hitting really well,” Turner added. “So you’re like, ‘Oh, he’s playing good.’ And then he wins the MVP. So it’s kind of crazy.
“The numbers he can put up offensively are really special. He’s one of a kind, and that’s why he won the MVP last year and why he’s doing what he’s doing now.”
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