Dodgers Rumors: Aaron Judge taking priority over Trea Turner in free agency?

Another early exit from the playoffs has the Los Angeles Dodgers strategizing for an offseason that might feature a significant amount of turnover. Will Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger, Clayton Kershaw, Tyler Anderson, Andrew Heaney, Tommy Kahnle and others return?

Better yet, will the Dodgers be able to afford another massive contract for shortstop Trea Turner? By all accounts, it seems that way … because they’re willing to potentially chase another, more expensive star in free agency.

It’s worth wondering how sold on Turner the Dodgers really are after what transpired over the final six weeks of the 2022 campaign. Though he finished the year with 101 runs scored, 21 homers, 100 RBI and 27 stolen bases, he finished slashing .298/.343/.466 (.809 OPS) with a 121 OPS+. Very good … but nothing particularly special.

That on-base percentage was a career low for seasons in which Turner logged at least 100 games. After slugging .497, .588 and .536 the last three seasons, that .466 figure leaves a lot to be desired, too. Turner was hitting .312 with an .846 OPS on Aug. 27 and then cratered the final month of the season.

If the Dodgers are going to spend monstrously on another marquee free agent, then why not take the leap for the top option on the market? Per MLB insider Mark Feinsand, the Dodgers could do just that and chase Aaron Judge while skipping out on Turner.

Are the Dodgers prioritizing Aaron Judge over Trea Turner in free agency?

Though Turner’s offense was better in the postseason this time around (6-for-18 with 2 HR, 2 RBI, and 1 SB in four games), his defense let the Dodgers down in a big way during their Game 2 loss against the Padres, and there just weren’t enough clutch hits on his end (1-for-4, 0 RBI with RISP).

If the Dodgers import Judge, it’ll likely be a $300 million contract OR a $40+ million AAV deal, but they’ll be getting a true MVP-caliber player. They can play him in center field or right field, too, which would also help address the likely loss of Bellinger.

As for the shortstop position, which creates a problematic vacancy, perhaps the Dodgers are willing to shift Gavin Lux over there, put Chris Taylor at second base, and leave Trayce Thompson in left field. They’d lose Turner’s speed, but the defense at short wouldn’t exactly make that much of a difference, and Judge’s addition adds a ton more power and on-base capability.

The Dodgers have shocked MLB fans time and time again in free agency and at the trade deadline. Making a push for Judge to add another marketable superstar, while also stealing him from the apparent NL frontrunner for his services in the Giants, could be a legitimate plan to improve their fortunes and prevent a division rival from gaining an edge.

We’ve seen crazier.

Trea Turner not stealing sums up Dodgers’ unacceptable lack of aggression in NLDS

Trea Turner decided not to steal when he was the leadoff man in the top of the eighth inning. What are the Los Angeles Dodgers doing?