3 biggest threats to steal Trea Turner from Dodgers in free agency

1. Baltimore Orioles

East Coast. Up-and-coming roster. The absolute most money to spend. Watch out for the Baltimore Orioles, who have likely accidentally timed this rebuild perfectly.

You’ll never believe this number, but if the Orioles were to exercise every contract option and pay every arbitration-eligible player on their roster (in addition to the guaranteed contracts), they’d max out at $47.6 million on the 2023 payroll. Baltimore has the means to spend, too, so they can really do a lot here.

With a core of Adley Rutschman, Ryan Mountcastle, Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins, Gunnar Henderson and more, the O’s have already proven they can contend this year (they’re 3.5 games out of the AL Wild Card race). Theoretically, with the right additions, they should be vying for the AL East title in 2023, and Turner could be the start of that.

With the spending power to outbid most other big market teams and an immediate need at the position, the O’s could easily make Turner a priority before shifting their focus to pitching (Jacob deGrom?! Carlos Rodón? Justin Verlander? Chris Bassitt? Tyler Anderson? Michael Wacha?). The list goes on.

A 1-2 of Mullins and Turner atop the Baltimore lineup would be pretty lethal. The O’s can offer the money and the setting Turner is believed to desire. They have a greater need here, too, which makes them a bit more dangerous than others who might be shopping in the high-end department for shortstops.

Dodgers Rumors: Trea Turner free agency won’t be threatened by Yankees

The New York Yankees, who are supposed to be threats in free agency, could help the Los Angeles Dodgers by bowing out of the Trea Turner race.