Trea Turner will open the offseason as Philadelphia’s shortstop, but Dave Dombrowski has made the standard unmistakable: the job will not remain his by default in 2027.
The Phillies’ president of baseball operations addressed the club’s needs Thursday at Citizens Bank Park, his first public comments since Philadelphia’s Game 3 loss to Atlanta in the NL Wild Card Series on Oct. 1. A fifth straight postseason berth did little to soften the disappointment around the finish, and Dombrowski pointed directly to cleaner defense as part of the work ahead.
Turner returned from his offseason home in Florida to meet with Dombrowski at the ballpark Tuesday. Their conversation lasted roughly two hours, and the message was direct: Turner has to rebound defensively if he intends to remain at shortstop.
“We left no doubt about it,” Dombrowski said. “He understands that he needs to improve at shortstop. It is a requirement. He believes he can handle the position, and if he plays the way he did in 2025, he can. If he plays the way he did in 2026, he cannot. He understands that completely.”
The numbers matched what played out over the course of the season. Turner finished 2026 at minus-10 Outs Above Average, placing 39th among 42 qualified MLB shortstops. Defensive measurements are not always embraced inside clubhouses, but the rough plays were visible without a spreadsheet. Turner’s range and reliability became a recurring concern.
That represented a sharp turn from 2025, when Turner posted plus-17 OAA and tied for third among 37 qualified shortstops. His earlier Philadelphia defensive totals had also been uneven: minus-2 in 2024 and minus-6 in 2023.
A position decision waiting on Turner
Philadelphia has not declared a position change, and Turner would rather remain in the infield. But the alternatives are already clear if the defensive recovery does not come. An outfield move remains possible, while Bryson Stott—who handled shortstop for the 2022 National League champions—could be an internal answer.
The organization also has Aidan Miller and Bryan Rincon moving through its system. Miller is Philadelphia’s No. 2 prospect and No. 59 overall in baseball, while Rincon is ranked fourth in the system and No. 96 overall. Neither is viewed as the likeliest Opening Day replacement should a change be needed, though both could become factors during the first half of the season. The Phillies could also seek help outside the organization.
The club has already changed the voice assigned to the infield. Philadelphia dismissed infield coach Bobby Dickerson on Wednesday and hired former Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, who will coach third base as well. Mendoza inherits a demanding project in Turner, whose every spring misplay and early-season error figures to draw attention.
There is another layer to Turner’s winter. He is coming off the weakest offensive season of his career, batting .242 with 19 home runs, 58 RBIs, a .675 OPS and an 81 OPS+. For a player who led the league in hitting only a year earlier, it was an unexpected downturn.
“I cannot control the day-to-day conversation around it,” Dombrowski said. “He is not the first player I have known to deal with that kind of attention. He is intelligent, he knows he has to improve, and I believe he will handle it. He also has a lot of time left here.”
Turner has seven seasons remaining on the 11-year, $300 million deal he signed in December 2022. Dombrowski said the Phillies’ original belief in Turner extended beyond his talent at the time of the signing; the club trusted his athleticism, quickness and ability to stay productive over a long contract.
That faith has not disappeared, but it now comes with an assignment. The Phillies have already shared information they believe can help Turner, and Mendoza will take a central role in the on-field work. Dombrowski said Turner indicated he is willing to do whatever best serves the organization if shortstop ultimately is no longer the right fit.
For now, though, Turner intends to prove he belongs there. Philadelphia has given him the chance to do it. The next step is showing it on the dirt.
