LOS ANGELES, CA – Before Major League Baseball’s CBA expired last week which led to the league’s first lockout since 1994, the Los Angeles Dodgers were dealt a pair of blows to their squad losing top free agents Corey Seager and Max Scherzer to a couple of massive contracts that equaled $455 million combined.
At 37, Scherzer landed one of the most lucrative deals for a free agent pitcher in his late 30’s signing with the New York Mets on a three-year, $130 million contract.
Seager, the top prize of the 2021 free agent class, signed a 10-year, $325 million deal with the Texas Rangers ending his seven-year tenure with the Dodgers.
Many were disappointed that both Scherzer and Seager departed LA for “greener” pastures. However, they both maximized their respective values and got enormous paydays. You can’t blame them.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman likely foresaw losing one if not both of them. It wasn’t for a lack of effort or submitting a lowball offer. In the end, Friedman probably envisioned teams like the Rangers and Mets were going to overpay because they had to and the Dodgers didn’t.
This goes back to late July when Friedman acquired Scherzer and All-Star shortstop Trea Turner from the Washington Nationals. Turner, who’s under contract for the 2022 season, was an insurance policy in case Seager was gone at season’s end.
Friedman and the Dodgers can now slide Turner back to his natural position after the experiment at second base wasn’t exactly smooth. However, everything else about Turner’s game is smooth.
He had a memorable season last year winning the MLB batting title with a .328 batting average and leading the league in stolen bases (32), hits (195), and total bases (319). Turner also hit 28 home runs with 77 RBIs and 34 doubles. Not to mention his torrid stretch in the final week of the regular season kept the Dodgers’ division title hopes alive.
It was an MVP-caliber season for Turner, who’s rare combination of speed and power, makes him one of the most complete players in the game and that’s who is replacing Seager at shortstop.
Some could argue that Turner might even be an upgrade over Seager. Turner provides much more speed, is a better contact hitter, has the same amount of power, better defensively, and proven to be more durable over the injury prone Seager.
While they’re both champions, Seager has proven to be a better performer in October winning both NLCS and World Series MVP and leading the Dodgers to the 2020 World Series championship. Turner really struggled in the playoffs this past season, but then again so did Seager, who hit just .191 with two home runs, a far cry from his heroic 2020. He was also flat-out awful in the 2019 NLDS against the Nats, remember?
Going into next season, Turner and Mookie Betts could form a formidable one-two punch at the top of the Dodgers’ lineup with their speed and power and wreaking havoc on the base pads for opposing pitchers.
Yes, replacing a star slugger who’s beloved by Dodgers fans is never easy. However, when you have another elite player like Turner in your back pocket who’s more than capable of filling that void, it certainly eases that pain.
Also keep in mind, Friedman was able to re-sign All-Star utilityman Chris Taylor to soften the blow of losing Seager. CT3 was a major X-factor for the Dodgers last season especially in the playoffs.
There is also reported interest in former NL MVP and Atlanta Braves All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman or even pursue Houston Astros All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa.
While losing Seager and Scherzer were tough to swallow, the Dodgers still don’t have many shortcomings, in fact they have financial flexibility, and that will help put them in a position to compete for another World Series next season.
