Phillies Sign Trea Turner to Mega Deal

Story posted December 6, 2022 in CommRadio, Sports by Anthony Dasher

On Dec. 5, 2022, the Philadelphia Phillies went out and got their guy. Ever since the season ended, the Phillies were rumored to be favorites for shortstop Trea Turner.

They turned those rumors into reality by signing Turner to an 11-year, 300 million-dollar contract with a full no-movement clause. The term looks steep, but when one of the best shortstops is on the market, you go all in.

The contract will end when Turner is in his 40s, but since the Phillies are in win-now mode, the concern will have to wait until years from now.

The San Diego Padres offered an even larger deal to Turner, a deal that was worth more than Francisco Lindor’s 341 million-dollar contract with the New York Mets. But Turner wanted to go back home to the east coast, and that he did.

Trea Turner is a phenomenal baseball player. A World Series champion, all-star, batting champion and silver slugger winner is a resume that any team would love. In 2022, Turner batted .298 with 21 home runs and 100 runs batted in.

Turner is the fastest player in the MLB and his 27 stolen bases and 101 runs prove that point. He most likely won’t move Kyle Schwarber out of the leadoff spot, but he will fit well in the two-hole.

The Phillies lost shortstop Jean Segura to free agency, a reliable glove and bat. A bittersweet feeling for fans watching him leave, but Trea Turner is a huge upgrade.

With Bryce Harper recovering from his recent Tommy John surgery, Turner should help bring some of that missing strength to the lineup until Harper returns around the All-Star break.

The Phillies aren’t going to be done just yet. A mid-rotation starter and reliever are in their sights. Rumors of Jameson Taillon have been heard recently. Taillon finished the year strong finishing with a 3.91 ERA.

Noah Syndergaard could be an option for the bullpen. He can fill in for an injured starting pitcher and eat innings late in games. In the postseason, Syndergaard showed that he can be a great arm for the Fightins.

Carlos Rodon has been rumored since the trade deadline, but with the new Turner deal, Rodon is off the table.

The Phillies do still have money left in their pocket before they reach the salary tax, so it will be interesting to see how Dave Dombrowski and John Middleton approach the rest of the offseason.

Anthony Desher is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email acd5698@psu.edu.