Trea, Phillies agree to 11-year, $300M deal (source)

Trea Turner is now a free agent, and MLB.com is tracking the latest rumors surrounding the 29-year-old shortstop.

Read all about Turner here.

Dec. 5: Trea, Phillies agree to 11-year, $300M deal (source)
The Phillies got their star shortstop, agreeing to an 11-year, $300 million deal with Trea Turner on Monday, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. The team has not confirmed the deal, which per Feinsand includes a full no-trade clause. More >

Dec. 2: Padres have met with Turner twice (report)
The Phillies have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Turner, but Philadelphia has plenty of competition for the free-agent shortstop. One possible landing spot? The team that drafted him 13th overall in 2014.

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (subscription required) continues to hear that the Padres are in the shortstop market despite seemingly having more pressing needs elsewhere. The club was recently linked to Xander Bogaerts, but Rosenthal notes that Turner is a possibility as well, and that San Diego has, in fact, met with Turner in-person twice already.

Turner never played a game for the Friars after being drafted, as the club sent him to the Nationals as a player to be named later in a three-team trade that also involved the Rays back in 2015. Per Rosenthal, Padres general manager A.J. Preller "has pretty much coveted [Turner] ever since."

Signing a shortstop could be an outside-the-box way for the Padres to address their holes at first base and in left field, opening up the possibility of Fernando Tatis Jr. moving to left, Ha-Seong Kim to second and Jake Cronenworth to first.

Nov. 30: Phillies seen as favorites to sign Turner
This year's class of free-agent shortstops is absolutely stacked, but Turner is the the best of the bunch. As such, he is in line to sign a lucrative long-term deal this offseason, and according to MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi, the Phillies are viewed as the favorites to land him.

Morosi adds that Turner, who is the Phillies' top offseason target, is "probably headed for an average annual value in excess of $30 million a year."

ESPN's Jeff Passan wrote Tuesday (subscription required) that Turner "should snag a deal in excess of $250 million." The same goes for Carlos Correa, but in a poll of 12 MLB executives and insiders conducted by ESPN's Jesse Rogers, the majority believe Turner will end up with the longer, richer pact.

Francisco Lindor's $341 million contract with the Mets stands as the most valuable one given to any shortstop. In terms of annual average value, that record among shortstops belongs to Correa and his $35.1 million from the Twins this past season.

Nov. 28: Turner-Phillies signing has 'good chance to happen'
Trea Turner has been linked to the Phillies throughout the offseason. MLB.com's Mark Feinsand said last week that the 29-year-old shortstop was the team's "top target" in free agency. On Monday, MLB Network insider Joel Sherman struck an optimistic tone when talking about a possible agreement between Philadelphia and Turner.

"If you're a betting man, I think [the Phillies signing Turner] has a good chance to happen," Sherman said during Monday's edition of MLB Now.

The Phillies have a glaring hole in the middle of their infield as Didi Gregorius and Jean Segura are both free agents. Plus, with Bryce Harper expected to miss significant time next season following his recent elbow surgery, the Phillies could be even more motivated to make a big pickup on the open market.

“The Phillies initially, we believed that they would be in the shortstop market, whether it’s [Xander] Bogaerts or Turner, Bryce Harper’s close friend,” Morosi said Monday on MLB Network. “I think [Harper’s surgery] probably underscores and emphasizes their interest in the shortstop market."

Dodgers reporter David Vassegh said during Monday's episode of High Heat that L.A. was looking at other options at shortstop beyond re-signing Turner and listed the Phils, Cubs and Braves as the three teams that are "certainly in" on the 2022 All-Star and Sliver Slugger.

Nov. 22: Turner 'likely' the Phillies' top target
The Phillies are in the market for one of the elite performers in a deep class of free-agent shortstops. They could sign any of the four players at that position who are a clear step above the rest. But it seems like Trea Turner gets linked to them most often, and that continued Tuesday when MLB.com's Mark Feinsand said that Turner is "likely" Philadelphia's top target at shortstop.

"The Phillies are a team I've heard [Turner] connected to several times," Feinsand said.

Signing with Philly would reunite Turner and Bryce Harper, who were teammates with the Nationals for four seasons and are "buddies," per Feinsand.

Heading into his age-30 season, Turner has registered a .316 average and an .877 OPS since the start of 2020. He was the only shortstop with at least 20 homers and 20 steals this past season and was rewarded with his first Silver Slugger earlier this month.

Nov. 10: Do the Phillies have an advantage for Turner?
While there are numerous star players available on the free agent market, not much may develop until the best player available -- Aaron Judge -- makes a decision. As MLB.com's Mark Feinsand wrote Thursday, until Judge signs, "the top of the market may find itself in a holding pattern, as Judge’s decision could help determine what happens with the rest of the top free agents, as the clubs missing out on the slugger will be forced to pivot elsewhere."

However, that may not be true for every team and every top player, because not all clubs are in on Judge. For instance, the Phillies already have a lot of high-priced talent roaming their outfield. They have their eyes on the shortstop market and are reportedly the most likely landing spot for Turner.

One National League executive told Feinsand that Philadelphia's ability to focus on Turner while other clubs vie for Judge may give the NL champions an edge in negotiations.

"The Phillies can tell Turner or whoever else they have their eye on, ‘You’re not our Plan B; you’re the guy we want,'" the executive said. "Players like hearing that."

Nov. 10: Phillies the most likely landing spot for Turner?
The core of the Phillies club that made a surprising run to the World Series in 2022 was largely built through free agency, with Philadelphia signing Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler, J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos to big-money deals.

Philadelphia may be preparing to make another big free-agent splurge this offseason. According to MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi, a lot of people at the General Managers Meetings think Philly is the most likely landing spot for Turner.

Turner is close friends with Harper, his former teammate with the Nationals, and he’d love to play with the two-time NL MVP again, per Morosi, who also mentions the Giants, Mariners and Orioles as potential fits for the 29-year-old Turner.

For the Phillies, Turner would represent a huge offensive upgrade over Bryson Stott at shortstop. The former first-round Draft pick took control of the starting shortstop job for the Phils in 2022, but he finished his rookie season with a .653 OPS and went just 6-for-44 (.136) with a .482 OPS in the playoffs. The Phils would still have the option of giving Stott regular playing time at second base after declining Jean Segura’s $16 million option for 2023.

Turner, who spent part of 2021 and all of 2022 with the Dodgers, has said publicly that he likes playing in Los Angeles and will consider every team in free agency this offseason. However, the Dodgers are under the belief that the Florida native prefers to play for an East Coast team if the offers are similar, writes MLB Network insider Jon Heyman in an article for the New York Post. Philadelphia would obviously fit the bill.

Nov. 9: Turner is a 'unique possibility' for this team
Although the Mariners signed shortstop J.P. Crawford to a five-year deal this past April, that may not preclude Seattle from making a big purchase at that position on the open market this winter.

MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi said Wednesday that players such as Trea Turner and Xander Bogaerts could be "unique possibilities" for Seattle. Morosi mentions Carlos Correa as well but recognizes that Turner's athleticism and versatility may make him more attractive to Seattle; Turner played nearly 50 games at second base with the Dodgers in 2021.

Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto reiterated Tuesday that Crawford is the team's shortstop moving forward, but Morosi reports that the team has had conversations with Crawford's representation about what it would take for him to move from shortstop and make room for a signee.

"It's not going to be for a league-average shortstop," Morosi said. "It would have to be for a game-changing type of player."

Morosi continued: "Let's think about this for a moment: How dynamic would the top of the Mariner lineup be if they had Julio Rodríguez and Trea Turner at the top of it?"

Nov. 5: Could Turner end up with this World Series team?
In his new Beat Report, MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand said the Phillies are "believed to be ready to make a big push" for free agent shortstop Turner, with Feinsand citing the belief that Turner would prefer to play on the East Coast.

Nov. 4: Will Turner be a target for the Cards?
Recent history has shown that when MLB Network host Greg Amsinger makes a Cardinals-related prediction, you should listen. Amsinger called Nolan Arenado to the Cardinals in March 2020, 11 months before the third baseman was traded to St. Louis. Even more impressive, he predicted the exact date of Albert Pujols’ 700th home run five months ahead of time.

Amsinger’s latest prognostication? Turner will be the Cardinals starting shortstop on Opening Day in 2023.

“To me, it’s the perfect fit,” Amsinger said in an appearance on 101 ESPN St. Louis on Thursday. “He is the missing link. And if the Cardinals don’t recognize that then they’re missing out. I know they’ve got young players. This kid [Masyn] Wynn is a talented young Minor Leaguer. But what we’ve learned over the years is you just don’t know what you get from prospects. It’s not bulletproof.

“This is a guaranteed star, and if you can lock up Trea Turner and set him next to Nolan Arenado for years to come, you’re going to be winning the NL Central. The Cardinals are going to be a power for years to come, but Trea Turner is the only name Cardinal fans should be talking about this offseason. Because he should be their No. 1 target, he will be their No. 1 target, and he eventually will be the shortstop of the Cardinals.”

Amsinger isn’t the only one who sees St. Louis as a fit for Turner. The Cards were among the teams on the list of the potential suitors for the All-Star shortstop MLB Network insider Jon Heyman put together in a story for the New York Post on Thursday.

Signing Turner would lengthen a top-heavy St. Louis lineup and allow Tommy Edman to either spend more time at second base, where he won a Gold Glove Award in 2021, or handle a super utility role. Edman split his time between second and short in 2022.

However, it should be noted that the deal Turner is likely to command -- an unnamed expert predicted $275 million over nine years in Heyman’s article -- would be out of character for the Cardinals.

Matt Holliday’s $120 million contract is the largest free-agent deal in Cardinals history, and Paul Goldschmidt’s $130 million extension holds the record for the largest overall deal a player has signed with St. Louis.

Oct. 28: Is Turner destined for a reunion with the Dodgers?
Trea Turner has told the Dodgers that he likes playing in Los Angeles, but he still can't shake the belief that he would prefer to play on the east coast, according to a new report from Jon Heyman in the New York Post.

Heyman also links the Braves, Cardinals, Phillies and Red Sox to Turner, citing their geographical proximity to Turner's home state of Florida and his wife's home state of New Jersey.

If Turner does end up choosing a team other than the Dodgers, Heyman reported that the Dodgers' second choice at shortstop would be Carlos Correa, citing the team loves everything Correa brings to the table.

Oct. 5: Turner part of star-studded FA shortstop class
Turner had another outstanding year in 2022, hitting .298 with 21 homers, 27 steals, 39 doubles, 100 RBIs and 101 runs scored, and he'll have a chance to further raise his profile for the Dodgers in the playoffs before reaching free agency this offseason.

The 29-year-old will be one of the headliners of the upcoming free-agent class, though he won’t be the only marquee shortstop available. Dansby Swanson is also set to hit the open market, and Carlos Correa (opt-out) and Xander Bogaerts (opt-out) are likely to join them.

Last year’s free-agent crop was also stacked at the shortstop position, and Corey Seager (10 years, $325 million), Marcus Semien (7 years, $175 million), Javier Báez (6 years, $140 million), Trevor Story (6 years, $140 million) and Correa (three years, $105.3 million) all ended up landing nine-figure deals.

The Dodgers will likely make a strong effort to re-sign Turner after losing Seager to the Rangers in free agency after the 2021 season. Los Angeles was able to replace Seager with another elite shortstop in Turner, but it doesn’t have that luxury this time.

Turner remains one of the fastest players in baseball, and he’s become a much more dangerous hitter in recent years, recording a 137 OPS+ since the beginning of 2020 (111 OPS+ from 2015-19). Turner also improved his defensive metrics at shortstop after a rough start with the glove in 2022.