All right, as the Philadelphia Phillies continue to figure out how to rise above the .500 mark, let’s jump into our handy time machine and consider, while travelling to this coming October, which player the team needs to add to their roster first and foremost.
By then, in all likelihood, the Phillies will have been eliminated from the playoffs (if things go well) and will be looking to become more competitive while the prime years of Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Zack Wheeler, and Nick Castellanos dribble away.
Is it ever really too early for the Philadelphia Phillies to think about next year?
Who should be the first target? Assuming no injury to him, the answer is clearly Trea Turner. Yes, by then the Phillies will likely need another starter, but maybe they won’t. Whatever that decision, the answer is still Turner.
This is contingent upon the Dodgers not extending Turner’s contract this season, of course, but let’s assume that doesn’t occur for the sake of argument.
Although he’s off to a middling start to the ’22 season, Turner is one of the best players in baseball, in addition to being one of the fastest. He was both the MLB batting champion and third in stolen bases in ’21. And when he becomes a free agent following this season, theoretically, signing him will be brutally difficult.
After all, the Dodgers let a shortstop go who was ultimately signed for over $300 million in favor of Turner, who surely had to be considered a keepable player after his midseason acquisition last summer and his $21 million deal for this season.
However, that one-year deal presents a begging question. With only two ultra-big contracts after this season ends, why didn’t the Dodgers give Turner more than one year? While the player has said he would be open to negotiating an extension on his contract, nobody would sign anything in early May with a player who is slightly underperforming.
Didi Gregorius and Jean Segura are likely leaving the Phillies after this season, as might Aaron Nola if he doesn’t rebound. If all three left, this would subtract over $45 million in ’21 dollars from the Phillies ’22 salary total.
But the Dodgers will surely consider resigning Turner if he just stays in the .260-.270 range, where he is now, and only steals 25 bases — if he also stays healthy. These stats would be considered off-year postings, and a bargaining advantage for Los Angeles.
So, the Phillies have to sort of hope for weaker numbers than those above from Turner this year, that he stays healthy, and that there’s someone to replace Nola who isn’t terribly expensive. But they need to consider Turner and perhaps (cough) back-channel contacts. Maybe Bryce Harper could wear another T-shirt.