When the Dodgers let go of Traya Turner, they didn’t expect this.
Aside from leaving for the American League or renewing a friendly deal, Turner’s return home to the east coast in Philadelphia seemed like the perfect fit for his free agency. The price the Phillies paid bordered on unreasonable, surpassed only by the amount of money Turner turned down from the Padres. The Dodgers had no reason to regret that they chose not to match the number (at least was before Gavin Lux died).
However, any self-loathing fueled by Turner’s departure has since turned into sympathy, as the 30-year-old shortstop was nothing short of a seismic disappointment in the town of Boo Birds.
Turner’s season, trailing well below his career norms, plummeted to a staggering new low Wednesday night as the Marlins edged an inch closer to the Phillies in the Wild Card race, thanks in large part to shortstop malfeasance.
The race was already closer than it should have been, largely due to Turner’s under-average performance this year, but in this case he was more directly responsible for a particular brutal defeat. The shortstop went 0-for-5 in a game in which the Phillies squandered a 5-0 lead. About what could have been the finale of the extras game, Turner kept yelling from the left, and the game went on. Miami won at 12.
Trea Turner went 0-5 and played tonight. The Phils are down 9-8 in 12 innings.
What’s going on with him?? pic.twitter.com/iGBxYTnpcM
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) August 3, 2023
After the game, the responsible Turner stopped before the relentless Philadelphia media and bluntly stated, “Obviously, I’m the reason we lost this game.” Obviously, nobody deserves it but effervescent turner after pay No deserve this avalanche of guilt.
The Dodgers trade Turner’s assets in the middle of the 2021 season, appointing him as the “obvious heir” to Corey Seager (or at least someone who will scare Seager in front of a free agent) and then allowing him to leave without much resistance after 2022. . curious move. Turner’s facilitation of his wife’s homecoming (and, again, his rejection of a much larger Padres offer) was a noble act in the eyes of Dodgers fans.
No one wished him such harm. No one could wish that level of evil on anyone (other than Madison Bumgarner).
OPS Trey Turner is ranked 132nd out of 144 players who have qualified.
His 14 errors are tied for second place in major tournaments.
If he’s C- and not F, the Phillies are a completely different team.
Just a complete disaster that cannot be explained.
— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) August 3, 2023
Good news? Turner has until 2033 to figure that out.
Bad news? Turner has until 2033 to play before the relentless Philadelphia faith.
Let’s hope Wednesday was his lowest low and the moment he can look back and forget when he’s raking and diving and sliding somewhere down the line. Turner’s speed-based game is a buoyant treat. Even the most die-hard Dodgers fans are upset this morning, imagining them dissolving.