For the Philadelphia Phillies, Trea Turner is a dream that could come true

The 2022 season is over, and though the year was an absolute success for the Philadelphia Phillies, there still remains work to be done. Free agency has already opened, and there are several different directions the team could go.

Having already officially parted with several members of their 2022 roster, the team will look to not only fill those holes but replace what they’ve lost with, ideally, even greater talent.

Pitching, both starters and relievers will need to be signed, of course, but there’s one big-time need for Philadelphia. One that could be filled with an even bigger name who has been the talk of the Phillies’ offseason for months and reportedly even WANTS to come to Philly. Practically a dream situation.

Trea Turner is the dream that just might come true for the Philadelphia Phillies.

First, it’s only logical to start with who Trea Turner is, for those unaware, and why the Phillies should even want him in the first place.

Originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2014, Turner would then be traded to the Washington Nationals in December of the same year. It was there, in the Nation’s capital, that Turner would begin to blossom.

In his rookie year, he would play in just 73 games but still managed 13 home runs, 40 RBIs, 53 runs, and an incredible 33 stolen bases while slashing .342/.370/.567 during the season.

It would not take long for Turner to establish himself as one of the exciting young players in the league, as he proved he could be relied on for roughly 20 home runs, 100 runs, and 30 stolen bases in any given season. There are not many players one can say that about, and the Phillies would be lucky to have Turner call Philadelphia his new home.

The Phillies have pursued stars before and the results have been fairly solid.. They were able to sign Bryce Harper (the most important player they targeted) and Zack Wheeler, resigned J.T. Realmuto, and signed both Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos last offseason. Still, though, in many of those cases, the Phillies were simply the highest bidder. This time, it’s about more than just the money.

Over the past few years, the Phillies have gone from a team who could potentially pursue Turner to the team widely considered to be the favorite to land the former Dodger and National. What’s gone into this, though? Turner has an alleged desire to return to the east coast, sure, but there are plenty of teams near the coast other than the Philadelphia Phillies.

Could it be Philadelphia’s recent trip to the World Series? After all, the third Wild Card did make it further than Turner’s Dodgers on little more than the spirit of the city, a bad pop song, and pure vibes. While that’s not entirely the reason, being a proven winner certainly does not hurt the Phillies’ case.

There is, of course, the Phillies’ ability and willingness to offer quite a large contract, in both money and years. This is a factor for every free agent, but with teams like the Yankees, Mets, and even Turner’s own Dodgers able to offer similar deals, it’s not enough to set Philadelphia apart.

Then there’s Trea Turner’s close relationship with Phillies’ superstar Bryce Harper. Much has happened since the two were teammates. Turner won the 2019 World Series with the Nationals, Harper won another MVP — this time with the Phillies, and made it to a World Series of his own.

Many from the MLB Network’s Jon Morosi to Jayson Stark of The Athletic have connected not only this friendship and Turner’s free agency but also reported interest from Turner to specifically play in Philadelphia because of it. This is obviously a potentially monumental reason why the two-time All-Star would desire to play for the Phillies, but still, in and of itself, it is not the reason.

The reason why Trea Turner and the Philadelphia Phillies may be a dream turned reality is a combination of all of these red threads that connect the two. The Phillies check all the boxes Turner appears to be looking for. From location to the ability to compete, to money, to a reunion with Bryce Harper, Philly has it all. Now all that’s left to do is sign on the dotted line.

Until Turner signs a contract with the team, there is, of course, nothing certain. However, with the bevy of factors tying the two together, all signs point to Trea Turner becoming a dream that comes true for the Philadelphia Phillies.