ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 29: Philadelphia shortstop Trea Turner (7) reacts prior to the start of the Philadelphia Phillies versus the Atlanta Braves in game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series on September 29th, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Philadelphia Phillies entered the season with expectations of another deep postseason run, but their year ended in yet another disappointment after a Wild Card Series loss to the rival Atlanta Braves.
Though the Phillies suffered several disappointments along the way, few players embodied the team’s issues more than Trea Turner, whose struggles at the plate and in the field became a major storyline as Philadelphia’s season unraveled.
Turner’s massive contract has also made his situation particularly difficult for the Phillies to address. He has seven more years to go on his $300 million deal, appearing to be the team’s biggest albatross among several highly paid and aging veterans.
“No money is more poorly spent by the Phillies than the money they’ve spent on Turner,” Marcus Hayes wrote for The Philadelphia Inquirer. “There is no simple solution. Turner is 33, he has an untradeable contract, and he’s locked in for seven more seasons.”
With the Phillies now entering an offseason in which changes to the roster are expected, one obvious question is whether Turner should continue playing shortstop. After the Phillies were eliminated, Turner was asked whether he would consider moving to another position.
Philadelphia Phillies’ $300 Million Albatross Trea Turner Addresses Position Change
Earlier this month, immediately after the Phillies were eliminated by the Braves, Turner was asked if he would be open to changing positions if approached by the team.
“We’ll see,” Turner responded, according to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, suggested he was open to the idea but not particularly excited about it.
Turner has spent most of his career at shortstop, including throughout his entire Phillies tenure up to this point. But his defensive performance has increasingly become a concern as he has entered his 30s.
The Phillies could theoretically shift Turner to another position while retaining his bat, although his contract makes any broader roster overhaul more complicated. The organization will have to determine whether moving him would improve the defense enough to justify disrupting the infield alignment and potentially ruffle his feathers.
Philadelphia Phillies’ Franchise Shortstop Addresses Major Move
Though he fell short of embracing a potential position change for next season, Turner acknowledged that the questions about his future role are understandable after a brutal season on both offense and defense. He also noted that he has considered a change in position at some point.
“Um, I think yes in the sense that it would come at some point in my career,” Turner added, per Gelb. “When or why or what … it could be a different answer. But if you don’t play well in any sense of the word, there will always be questions.”
That admission could give the Phillies some flexibility if they broach the subject of a position change with Turner.
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