Both Trea Turner and the Philadelphia Phillies are at a crossroads.
Turner was signed ahead of the 2023 season to an 11-year, $300 million contract to be a star shortstop in Philly. Instead, a few average-at-best seasons were followed by his best and worst seasons as a member of the organization. Just four years later, the franchise is wondering if their best move is to have their shortstop switch positions.
A lot of debate has been held externally on which position Turner should play if the Phillies do in fact make a change.
Does he stay in the infield and play second base? What about moving to the outfield to try and fill a void in center field? Is left field a more suitable change?
All of these questions have to be the Phillies' top priority ahead of the offseason (and lockout). Without answering this question, they will have no true way of preparing to retool their roster ahead of next season.
In the beginning of his big league career, the Washington Nationals played Trea Turner all over the diamond. Before he was the team's everyday shortstop, Turner played 42 games at second base between 2015 and 2016.
When the Nationals traded Turner to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2021 trade deadline, Turner was again moved from shortstop.
Longtime Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager maintained his position, sliding Turner to second base to accommodate the Dodgers' infield alignment. After Seager left in free agency that offseason, Turner moved back to his natural position for the 2022 season.
Turner has played second base a total of 91 times at the Major League level.
If the Phillies decide to move Turner over to second base, this will allow him to remain an infielder, where his desires lie. Turner wants to play shortstop, but the organization can likely sell a move to second base with ease. Plenty of shortstops have moved to second base over time in their careers. In recent years, Bo Bichette and CJ Abrams are two modern examples of that switch.
However, if the Phillies do move Turner to second base, they will then have to decide where they want to play Bryson Stott.
When the team traded for Luis Arraez, Stott found himself playing an elite third base. In 2022, when he was a rookie, Stott, of course, played shortstop for the Phillies. Moving him back to his initial position would not be the hardest transition in the world.
The decision of where to move Stott would pair with how the Phillies view top prospect Aidan Miller. Miller is a shortstop by trade but has started to play some games at third base. Where they choose Stott to play could directly affect their plans for Miller.
In his time with Washington, Turner also played center field. This, of course, was over a decade ago. In 2016, Turner played 45 games in center for the Nationals. He has not played a game in the outfield since that season.
While Trea still has elite speed and athletic ability, the transition from infielder to outfielder does not always go seamlessly. Especially when you are moving to a position with the most ground to cover.
I would compare Turner's ability in center field to what the Phillies received this season from rookie Justin Crawford.
Both players are good athletes with above-average speed. They possess average to below-average arms, and we would have to see how Turner's reaction time is in the outfield. Reading a ground ball off the bat at shortstop is a lot different than a fly ball to center field.
Fans were highly unsatisfied with the results of Crawford in the outfield. Would they feel differently if the production came from Turner instead? Either way, the Phillies would need to operate with their own bias, not one created by the fanbase.
Assuming Turner's offense returns to career norms, his production would be far better than what the Phillies have had in previous seasons. The value of his contract would be maintained as center is a premium spot, and it would fill a void the Phillies have had for several seasons.
Alternatively, if the organization does not feel that center field is the best option, left field is another.
It would better suit Turner's physical tools, allowing him less pressure of playing a position that is truly demanding. The transition to left field would likely be easier; the Phillies have done this with Edmundo Sosa and Rhys Hoskins in recent seasons to various degrees of success (or lack thereof).
Either outfield spot would help the Phillies, who need a complete overhaul. At this current moment, they do not have a single outfielder ahead of next season who has earned the right to play every day. A full platoon in the outfield is not a sustainable option either.
MORE: Does Aaron Boone make sense for the Phillies?
Wherever the Phillies and Turner decide he should play next season, his tenure at shortstop should come to an end. Then, the Phillies can get a jump-start on a key offseason.
