Phillies Sign Trea Turner for $300 Million

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December 5, 2022

The Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to sign superstar shortstop Trea Turner for $300 million over 11 years. After winning the National League Championship in 2022, the Phillies shocked many by paying $300 million to sign Trea Turner. He made a trip to the All-Star Game for the second time in his career and won his first Silver Slugger award. After leading the league in hits and batting average for much of the season, Turner finished fifth in batting average and second in hits. He ultimately finished with a .298/.343/.466 slash line. For the first time in his career, Trea Turner reached the 100-RBI plateau. The 2022 season was the second consecutive for Turner with at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. He finished with 27 steals and 21 homers.

The 2022 season was not perfect for Trea, however. His numbers trailed off toward the end of the season. Additionally, each of the numbers mentioned above represents a regression from 2021. Turner finished first in the NL in both hits and batting average in 2021. His slash line in 2021 was .328/.375/.536, hit 28 home runs, and stole 32 bases. This is not to say that Turner’s 2022 season was terrible or off, but that his 2021 season may turn out to be one of the best of his career – if not the best.

Turner was in the midst of an excellent season with the Washington Nationals, with a .322/.369/.521 slash line. The Nationals then traded Trea to the Los Angeles Dodgers and he not only continued his excellent season but perhaps improved his numbers. Turner batted to a .338/.385/.565 slash line with the Dodgers. He raised his OPS from .890 in 96 games with the Nationals to .950 in 52 games with the Dodgers. The Dodgers received their value from Trea Turner.

The New Offense After Phillies Sign Trea Turner

Now that the Phillies have a new superstar shortstop in Trea Turner, they have a beefy offense. Bryce Harper recently had Tommy John Surgery, but when he returns, the Phillies will have a lineup that involves Harper, Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Brandon Marsh, Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, Rhys Hoskins, J.T. Realmuto, and Nick Castellanos. Schwarber is a premier slugger that hit 46 home runs last season. Marsh will turn 25 next season but has not fully shown his potential. Bohm will be entering his age-26 season and is coming off a season where he batted .280 with an OPS+ at the league average.

Alec Bohm is someone to watch who may build off of last season’s performance for a big 2023 season. Stott had fantastic offensive numbers in the minors and is coming off of his rookie year with a .234/.295/.358 slash line. Hoskins smashed 30 home runs for the second time in his career. Realmuto is one of the best offensive catchers in baseball and earned his second Gold Glove and third Silver Slugger in 2022. Castellanos is one season away from a .309/.362/.576 slash line with 34 home runs and 100 RBI. But 2022 was not as great. His OPS+ dropped from 138 in 2021 to a subpar 95 in 2022 with a slash line of .263/.305/.389.

So the Phillies have an offense that has a little bit of everything. They have young talent in Stott and Marsh. They have one of the better-known names in the game in Harper. Bohm is a potential breakout star. Castellanos is a potential comeback player. They also have sluggers in Schwarber and Hoskins. The Phillies offense looks like it will be a powerhouse in 2023.

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