For a second consecutive offseason, there will be no shortage of All-Star caliber shortstops in free agency. This year’s class includes Trea Turner, who has been key at the top of the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup.
Turner is in position to sign a lucrative contract and figures to receive a long-term deal that could approach $300 million in total value.
While Turner has been successful in L.A., there have been rumblings he may prefer returning to the East Coast, where he was born and spent the first seven seasons of his career.
Turner denied that notion and made it clear he would be open to re-signing with the Dodgers, via Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago:
“I would love to be here,” said Turner, who reportedly made it known initially last year that he was chapped at the trade that sent him to the other coast last summer. “Whatever it is, from almost any angle you look at it, it seems like [the Dodgers] are the best in baseball, or one of the best. This place is awesome. I’d like to be here, and hopefully they feel the same way, that they would love to have me. But if that’s a conversation for later, this offseason, then I’m looking forward to it.”
After winning the 2021 National League batting title, Turner put together another impressive season. He finished the year hitting .298/.343/.466 with 39 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs and 100 RBI en route to earning a second career All-Star Game selection.
Turner’s 194 hits were second only to Freddie Freeman (199) for the MLB lead. They became the first set of teammates to finish first and second for most hits since Ichiro Suzuki and Brett Boone did so for the 2001 Seattle Mariners.
Dodgers were far apart with Trea Turner in contract negotiations
When the Dodgers acquired Turner at the MLB trade deadline in 2021, he expressed a willingness to sign a contract extension but was not open to holding negotiations during the regular season.
Those talks eventually began in Spring Training earlier this year, but did not produce much progress.
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