MLB Rumors: “Rumblings” That Trea Turner Has A Prefered Destination

Trea Turner is simply one of the top hitters in all of baseball. Contact, on-base skills, speed to burn, and power. He does it all. Of the four star shortstops on the free agent market, he is the one most heavily in demand. And word from MLB Insider Jayson Stark of The Athletic is that he wants to be in Philadelphia. 

Speaking on Philly's 97.5 The Fanatic sports radio, Stark made it clear:

Trea Turner to the Phillies? @jaysonst on 97.5 The Fanatic just now.

“There’s some interesting rumblings Trea Turner wants to be here.”

Video: @NBCSPhilly pic.twitter.com/IQT8PX8CdC

— David Grzybowski (@DavidGrzyTV) November 9, 2022

“There’s some interesting rumblings Trea Turner wants to be here," said Stark.

If I’m the Phillies, I do whatever it takes to get Trea Turner in red pinstripes this offseason.

He already meshes well in the clubhouse, having played with Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, and solves their age-old search for a leadoff hitter.

Speed, versatility, no-brainer.

— Alex Carr (@AlexCarrMLB) November 8, 2022

As noted by Phillies beat writer Alex Carr of Sports Illustrated, Turner has been a teammate of a couple of key Phillies, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, at different times with the Washington Nationals. 

Earlier this season, Turner raved about his former mate Harper, saying "it feels like he's the best player in the world." 

The Phillies just declined their option on Jean Segura this week, leaving a nice juicy hole in the middle infield. Bryson Stott would be moved to 2nd base. And shortstop would be wide open. 

In fact, the Phils are even the betting favorites to land Turner if he doesn't return to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's said to want to return to the East Coast.

Per @betonline_ag, the Phillies are the betting favorites to sign Trea Turner if he leaves the Dodgers. pic.twitter.com/t3sV7mxw13

— Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) November 8, 2022

At 5-2, they are favored ahead of the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees, who are 5-1.  

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski wouldn't name names, but he made it clear they have their eyes on a shortstop prize. “There are four really good shortstops out there, right?” Dombrowski said. “I wouldn’t get into any specifics on which ones we like, but we like all of them, as I think probably every club in baseball. That’s not a revelation. We like them all."

And will they be able to spend to get one of them? You bet:

“We have complete flexibility to do whatever we like."

Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports