The Los Angeles Dodgers made the biggest splash at the MLB trade deadline by acquiring three-time Cy Young Award Max Scherzer and All-Star shortstop Trea Turner from the Washington Nationals in exchange for a prospect package headlined by Josiah Gray and Keibert Ruiz.
It didn’t take long for Scherzer to make a good first impression on his new team as he fired seven innings of two-run ball with 10 strikeouts against the Houston Astros on Wednesday. All eyes are now on Turner, who is fresh off returning from the COVID-19 injured list.
The 28-year-old is arrived in L.A. on Friday and was activated in time for the Freeway Series. Turner made his Dodgers debut with a pinch-hit appearance in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Turner likely will receive most of his playing time at second base and gives the club another weapon at the top of the lineup. “He’s a dynamic player,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said.
“He contributes value in all aspects of the game. We’re really excited about adding a right-handed bat that is as dynamic as he is. Doc will have fun trying to figure out where to slot him in the lineup.
“Adding him and the length he creates in our lineup, the foot speed it adds, it’s something we’ve kind of been lacking the last five, six, seven years. To add a dynamic speed player will create even more options for us, which is going to be fun for Doc and the staff.”
In 96 games for the Nationals this season, Turner hit .322/.369/.521 with 17 doubles, three triples, 18 home runs, 49 RBI and 21 stolen bases over 420 plate appearances.
As Friedman noted, Turner’s game-changing speed adds a new element to a Dodgers lineup that already was considered to be one of the deepest in baseball. A 30-30 season isn’t out of the realm, and he’d be the first player to achieve such since Ronald Acuña Jr. and Christian Yelich in 2019.
Seager talks shortstop dynamic with Turner trade
When the Dodgers expanded their blockbuster trade with the Nationals to include Turner, it raised some eyebrows as Corey Seager recently returned from the IL to reclaim his spot at shortstop.
Seager, however, wasn’t opposed to the Dodgers adding Turner and is excited to share the infield with him.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and more!
