Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has made it clear that shortstop Trea Turner must improve his performance in the upcoming season. Dombrowski stated that Turner "has to be better" defensively at the shortstop position, according to MLB.com.
"He knows he has to be better at shortstop. And I told him that it's really mandatory that he’s like that," Dombrowski said at a press conference Thursday. He added that Turner understands the situation, recognizing that his ability to play shortstop depends on his performance.
Turner's 2026 season was statistically his worst in MLB. He recorded -17 defensive runs saved (DRS) at shortstop, marking the third time in four seasons with the Phillies that he finished with a negative, double-digit DRS. Offensively, Turner posted 19 home runs, 58 RBIs, 21 stolen bases, an 81 OPS+, and -0.1 wins above replacement (WAR), with a .242 batting average, .297 on-base percentage, and .378 slugging percentage. These offensive numbers were career worsts over a full season, a stark contrast to his 2025 season where he led the National League with a .304 batting average and had 5.4 WAR.
Dombrowski expressed surprise at Turner's offensive struggles in 2026 but emphasized the organization's commitment to finding solutions. "We’ve already given [Turner] some information ourselves that we think could be helpful," Dombrowski stated. He also noted Turner's willingness to do what is best for the team, whether he plays shortstop or another position. "He is very willing to do, if he doesn't play shortstop, what is best for the Philadelphia Phillies organization," Dombrowski said, adding that Turner is determined to prove he can still play the position.
Turner, 33, is four years into an 11-year, $300 million contract. While he primarily plays shortstop, he has previous experience at second base and in center field. He played second base for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the latter part of the 2021 season and made 79 career starts there. He also started 44 games in center field for the Washington Nationals in 2016. Turner has not played a position other than shortstop or designated hitter since 2021.
In other team news, the Phillies named Don Mattingly their full-time manager on a two-year contract. Mattingly, the former bench coach, was promoted to interim manager after Rob Thomson was fired early in the season. Under Mattingly, the Phillies finished with a 79-55 record but were eliminated in the MLB Wild Card Series. The team has not advanced past the NL Division Series since 2023.