Dodgers Rumors: Insider Predicts Trea Turner’s Contract Will Pass Corey Seager

The Dodgers do not have a shortstop for 2023 Opening Day. Sure, they have some options that could fill in for them and probably do a decent job. But experts do not believe Gavin Lux to be a big-league shortstop, especially starting for an organization as deep as this one.

But for right now, they still have the opportunity to retain Trea Turner. The Dodgers reportedly did not start extension conversations before the season and it seems likely that he will have the chance to feel out the market when the season is done.

Unfortuantely, it’s going to come at a premium if they want him around. According to FanSided’s Robert Murray, Trea is going to get the big money in free agency. He predicts that he will command a higher annual average than Corey Seager, who got $32.5 million per year to leave the Dodgers for Texas.

“Turner is going to get paid. For me, he is the best shortstop that will be on the open market this year, that’s even including if Carlos Correa is a free agent if he opts out of his contract with the Twins. And that contract is going to be expensive. He’ll get more than Corey Seager.”

The good news for the Dodgers is that it doesn’t mean the deal will exceed Seager’s $325 million deal. Corey signed his deal at the age of 27. Turner will be signing his next deal when he is 29 years old. That means that teams likely won’t go nearly as long on his deal as the Rangers went with Seager.

That could play into the Dodgers’ favor if they want to keep him around. They’ve shown a willingness to pay higher annual averages to lower the risks associated with long-term contracts in the past. That includes Trevor Bauer’s 3-year deal and even players like Justin Turner or Chris Taylor.

So if they decide that they need Turner around, offering him a deal in the range of 4 to 6 years wouldn’t entirely be out of the question. But that would likely mean they were offering over $150 million to take other teams out of the running. Trea could also look to get one final deal before his career is done, meaning he would want a deal in the range of 7-plus years.