The baseball universe was in shock with MLB’s latest free agent deal.
On Monday, the reigning National League champion Philadelphia Phillies agreed to terms with shortstop Trea Turner, formerly on the Los Angeles Dodgers, on an 11-year, $300 million contract.
The deal contains a full no-trade clause, although there is no word about any opt-out clauses.
It’s a huge commitment for the 29-year-old infielder.
He will be covered for a long, long time.
“Trea Turner’s deal with the Phillies will cover his age 30 to 40 seasons,” MLB insider Ken Rosenthal tweeted.
Trea Turner’s deal with the Phillies will cover his age 30 to 40 seasons.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 5, 2022
Usually, when a free agent of Turner’s caliber signs such a long deal, he can be considered underpaid for the first few years and overpaid in the latter deals of the deal, when the player starts declining.
Turner Should Age Gracefully
With Turner, the Phillies have an advantage over other free agents: his athletic body type gives him a better chance at aging gracefully.
That’s something the Phillies will worry about when it’s time: for now, a long deal was required to secure one of the top targets of the 2022-23 free agency period.
Lots of teams were after Turner, but the Phillies were seen as the favorites from the beginning even with the infielder playing the last season-and-a-half with the Dodgers.
He doesn’t steal as many bases as he used to steal, but it doesn’t matter: he has tapped into his power and is now capable of hitting 20 homers and stealing 25 bases per year with an average flirting with .300 and excellent defense.
This year, he slashed .298/.343/.466 with 21 home runs, 27 stolen bases, 101 runs, and 100 RBI.
He accumulated 6.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and will help the Phillies make another deep postseason run.
NEXT: MLB World Reacts To The Trea Turner Deal
