The 2022 MLB Winter Meetings are upon us, and for the first time since the pandemic, they will be held – in-person – in San Diego, California. The industry gathering kicked off Sunday at 4:00 pm and promises to be a busy week for most.
The thirty teams and their various representatives were already working hard at the start of business Monday morning. Around noon, Dodger fans were treated to some good – great – news.
Early Monday afternoon, it was reported on social media (Twitter) that three-time National League Cy Young Award winner and 2014 MLB MVP Clayton Kershaw would be returning to the Dodgers – the only MLB team he has ever played for and the team that drafted him in the first round (seventh overall) in 2006 out of Highland Park High School in University Park, TX – for a 15th season. The deal is for one year for $20 million.
During a live interview with SportsNet LA’s John Hartung on Monday evening, Kershaw was very upbeat.
“We felt like our time wasn’t finished in LA, it felt like we have another run in us,” the future Hall of Famer stated.
Like so much in life, on the heels of such wonderful news, came some less-than-wonderful news. A short while later on Monday afternoon, it was reported that popular (now) free agent Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner was in agreement with the Philadelphia Phillies on a multi-year (very) high-dollar deal.
Much like former Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager, whom the Dodgers lost in free agency to the Texas Rangers following the 2021 season for (then) record-setting 10 year/$325 million deal, it was only a matter of time that once Turner elected free agency in lieu of accepting the Dodgers one-year/$19.65 million qualifying offer, that he would quickly be scooped up on the free agent market.
The decision which worked out exceptionally well for the (now) 29-year-old Boynton Beach, FL native when he was offered and accepted a lengthy and lofty 11-year/$300 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, which, by no coincidence, is considerably closer to his South Florida home than is Los Angeles.
The former 2019 World Series champ is known for his stellar defense at shortstop, but he is also a stud offensively. Turner played in 160 games during the 2022 season. He boasted a .298 batting average, scored 101 runs off of 194 hits, 27 stolen bases, and 21 home runs.
Typically batting second in the lineup, Turner’s bat and speed guaranteed runs for the team. Plus, fans around baseball are very aware of his smooth signature slide when stealing a base or scoring a run at home plate. They will miss his swift feet – the two-time All-Star has registered 22.7 miles per hour at least twice in his career.
The 2022 Silver Slugger Award winner will be another of those hard-to-replace pieces in the Los Angeles lineup. With another hole to plug in the roster, fans are left wondering who will replace the captain of the infield.
Should the Front Office decide to forego the current prospects on the market, they could entertain infielder Gavin Lux for the position. He is still developing his skillset, though he has played shortstop before, Lux spent the majority of the 129 games he played in 2022 at second base.
Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman told the media Monday that he was comfortable with Lux at shortstop if that was how things worked out.
“That’s his natural position. So I think it’s easier for him to do that than anything else we’ve asked him to do,” Friedman announced.
Regardless, it will be interesting to see how events shape up for the Boys in Blue. So while fans can rejoice in the little victory of getting their beloved “Kersh” back to pitch another season, it is bittersweet to see Trea Turner move on to another team.
We are grateful for what he contributed during his time in LA and wish him well in his next adventure.
And the Dodger faithful will continue to (not so) patiently wait to see what other roster moves the Front Office makes during the Winter Meetings and in the weeks leading up to Spring Training.
Let’s go Dodgers!