The Los Angeles Dodgers have a really solid infielder on their roster, one who may very well be among the league’s most underrated players: Trea Turner.
Acquired alongside Max Scherzer around last year’s trade deadline, Turner had a good showing in Los Angeles in the second half, slashing .338/.385/.565 with 10 home runs and 11 stolen bases.
Between the Dodgers and the Washington Nationals, he batted .328/.375/.536 with 28 home runs, 107 runs, 77 RBI, and 32 thefts.
He is already training at the Dodgers’ camp, getting ready to shine again in 2022.
Talking to MLB.com’s reporter Juan Toribio, Turner clarified his goals for the year.
“#Dodgers Trea Turner said he’s excited to move back to shortstop so he can continue to prove he’s one of the best in the league. He’s also a free agent at the end of the season. He said he would be open to extension talk this spring. ‘It’s a great place to play,’ he said.”
#Dodgers Trea Turner said he's excited to move back to shortstop so he can continue to prove he's one of the best in the league.
He's also a free agent at the end of the season. He said he would be open to extension talk this spring.
"It's a great place to play," he said.
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) March 14, 2022
Turner Is Open To Staying In Los Angeles
Turner is moving back to his natural shortstop position after Corey Seager, who played there in 2021, left to the Texas Rangers via free agency.
Regarding his plans for the future, he seems open to signing his next long-term contract in Los Angeles.
Turner is still young, at 28 years old.
While his stolen base ceiling (he took over 40 bases in consecutive seasons, in 2017-18) is not the same as a couple of years ago, he has shown increased power recently.
In other words, he seems like he will age gracefully.
He remains a good defensive player, too, so he would be a very desirable target for teams if he hits free agency.
The Dodgers may not let that happen, though.
It’s a fluid situation, but there appears to be a willingness to negotiate from both sides.
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