Is Trea Turner the shortstop the Los Angeles Dodgers really need to win?

Any time there is any buzz regarding free agency and some of the top players in the game potentially moving to a new team, the Los Angeles Dodgers are invariably in the conversation as a destination. That includes this offseason where the Dodgers have been connected to members of the deep free agent shortstop class, including former top overall draft pick Carlos Correa.

But is where shortstop really where the biggest need to improve this offseason lies with the Los Angeles Dodgers?

Here’s why Trea Turner can possibly eliminate the need for the Los Angeles Dodgers to sign a high-priced shortstop

After being acquired along with starting pitcher Max Scherzer from the Washington Nationals just before the 2021 trade deadline, Turner turned in a slash line of .338/.385/.565 with an OPS+ of 152 in 226 plate appearances for Los Angeles. In the postseason, however, it was a different story. Turner hit just .216 with a pair of RBI while striking out 12 times in 51 at-bats. The Dodgers were ousted by the eventual World Champion Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series, and the grumbles about Turner’s lack of effectiveness in the postseason began to resurface (he now owns a career slash line of .228/.274/.287 in 179 postseason plate appearances.

Turner dazzled in the regular season, but fizzled in the postseason. Is that enough of a reason for the Dodgers to spend big dollars to ramp up the shortstop position where Turner played plenty in Washington but little in Los Angeles with Corey Seager already there?

As our friends at Dodgers Way point out in this article, what if the Dodgers focus on second base (perhaps a Marcus Semien or bringing back Chris Taylor) and leave Turner to take the reins at shortstop? Sure, you could put a Correa at shortstop, but knowing the Dodgers will also need to be spending money to shore up their rotation and bullpen, could a lesser-priced yet effective infield option be the better answer?

Of course every team would love to have Correa at shortstop, but the Dodgers already have someone who can be an offensive threat and solid enough on defense to get the job done at that position. Turner has played more games at shortstop (541) than any other position in his career (677) and, let’s face it, Dodgers fans, after all of those times you booed Correa and the Astros, do you really want one of the faces of the Houston cheating scandal in Los Angeles blue?

The Dodgers can spend their money more wisely by shoring up other positions than bringing in someone who can only play shortstop. Bring in a free agent at second base, shore up the pitching, and be ready to make the aggressive moves at the trade deadline that have become a Dodgers tradition in recent seasons. That could well be the recipe that puts Los Angeles back on top of the NL West and the entire NL in 2022.