Dodgers News: Andrew Friedman Opens Up on Trea Turner Discussions
We still don’t know who will be the Dodgers’ starting shortstop in 2023, but we do know that, for the third time in the last five offseasons, L.A. has lost their starting shortstop to a free-agent mega-deal. Like Manny Machado and Corey Seager before him, Trea Turner has parlayed a job as L.A.’s shortstop into a $300 million cotract.
Los Angeles president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman met with the media at the Winter Meetings in San Diego, and he shed a little light on the negotiations between the Dodgers and Turner.
#Dodgers Friedman: "We had a lot of different conversations over the last year with his camp and we had a pretty good feel for what they were looking for, they had a pretty good feel of where we were, and at times it's kind of what makes the world go 'round." (2/2)
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) December 6, 2022
Reading between the lines, it sounds like Friedman has known for a while that Turner wasn’t coming back. “What they were looking for” probably involves the east coast, and “where we were” almost certainly was a number much lower than the 11 years Philadelphia gave Trea. Turner probably didn’t know he’d be getting 11 years, but he was certainly aware the Dodgers wouldn’t be giving him the length he was looking for.
As Friedman said, Philadelphia fans will enjoy having Turner around. He’s a dynamic offensive player and a catalyst at the top of the lineup. He can be streaky, but when the streaks are going well, he’s as good as anybody at the plate. Coming off a World Series appearance, it makes sense for the Phillies to go for it with Trea.
The question now becomes: Do the Dodgers pivot? And if so, to whom?
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Don’t hold your breath fans. Friedman and Kasten have said this will be a transition year. Give the kids a chance with the vets they have reset the luxury tax. And if the kids don’t shape up than maybe next year they go big but not this year. They’ll sign maybe some low budget guys. Puig anyone.
There us a serious credibility issue as to Trea. AF agrees he’s the best so what was offered by LA to keep him. AAV was the key, or not. Why for the year + you had him could there have not been true/real negotiations to keep 1 of the 10 best players in the game.
Trea had been bounced around 3 times. He has a kid now, he wanted to finish with a team. Friedman would not agree to a long term deal. Phillie gave him the years but shaved 5-6 million off of the estimated aav value. Stretching the time out reduced aav from 32-33 to 27.3. Phillie can release him at any time and then the remaining salary is converted to deferred. You watch, Friedman will copy this technique going forward. Andrew got schooled.
Gavin Lux deserves a shot.
Gavin Lux has been given a shot and it is obvious he is nowhere in the league of Turner or Seager.
Lux does not. He’s already in 2+ years been a major disappointment. Plus, you have 4 other great SSs to pick from. Leave Lux at 2nd or on the benchm
Sad, I really liked Trea, especially his speed. Dodgers most likely lowballed him. Gavin may deserve or rather warrant a shot, but he’s not Trea offensively or defensively!
Lux will be an awful Offerman at short , he struggled at times at 2b , with the shift taken away and him going to his natural position maybe ,we will see in spring training. I think lux should have been packaged in a trade deal for a starter I guess time will tell. At this point they need, a top tier starter, a closer , a power RH bat … So run vargas platoon at 3b with turner ,muncy at 2b pick up Swanson outman in outfield you have Taylor you can put anywhere or run what you got see where it goes AF I’m sure is trying.
I agree 100%. H e has not established himself at all. Probably should be traded for another decent starter.
Lux stays at 2b and we trade for a SS. Now we pivot to Rodon, Senga, the scrap heap and more offense somewhere. Clearly, we are not drinking at the champagne trough or shooting for 111 wins. We’ll go hard for Ohtani when he becomes available.
Correa and Boras want big money on short term deals and either Twins got opt outs. Nader is a Boras guy, but Boston won’t pay him becaothey think he will have trouble without the shift. Dansby is the best defense will be the cheaper of the four
No Lux. Seen enough of him.
I for one am tired of seeing really good if not great players making quick stops to play for the Dodgers then moving on. It would be different if the Dodgers were winning some World Series in the process but, they’re not. Just division titles & then bounced out in the playoffs. Philosophy, front office, manager, something has to change!
No Correa. Cheater. Why stoop so low to win?
The contract is through age 40, for a shortstop. That does not make sense, deferred money or not.
AF needs some new personnel in the research department. MLB did a complete breakdown of Trea from the past, present, and projected future of his career. They have him a super athlete of not breaking down even into his age 40. Had comparison charts of his speed advantage, different approaches of hitting to drive runs in and hitting with power. Even as he ages, with his athleticism, he will still be a productive player, where his WAR, OBS, and other analytics will have earned his value in 6-7 yrs. BTW, he met with the Padres twice so he wasn’t all east coast bias.
You mean, the Gavin Lux that batted just shy of .300 last year? THAT Gavin Lux? (eyeroll)
what are you talking about he’s been fine before his injury at 2B and is the everyday 2B…he has the range for SS and is defensively better than Trea. It’s his bat that’s the difference…who is the dodgers going to replace him with. They’re alway been great at finding pitching talent…but positional player has been very bad for Friedman. All his FA signing other than Fredy has been horrible. The dodgers lost an All-MLB 1st team level player who are they going to replace him with?
No man, Trea wanted to be in the east coast unless LA paid him $33 or more for 10 years like Seager. Friedman they would have done $33 for 6-7 years..because his value is only ballon cause he’s a SS but he was one of the worst SS in NL. He’ll start to decline as a player especially as a SS, he’s not going to get better defensive…his speed is gonna slow down, his SS range will be even smaller and with all his throwing error…he’s gonna be horrible at that $35/yr salary 4 years from now.
Lux should have the chance at ss. The position he started out. See how it works out in spring training.
If you think the Dodgers have not been stealing signs for the last 100 years then you are a baseball illiterate. All teams have always stolen signs and it took technology to finally get a handle on it. The whole electronics idea in Houston was Alex Cora’s idea. He goes to Boston and does the same thing but in a different way. You need a reality check and a big lesson on forgive and forget. I would not want to be your friend and screw up and never be forgiven. Correa’s problem is his arrogance and ego.