Dodgers News: Will Smith Wanted Turner for '10, 11 More Years' in Blue

The market for Trea Turner was too hot for the Dodgers to keep up
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It seemed written on the wall after the NLDS loss that Trea Turner would inevitably find a new home. What wasn't written was that the Dodgers failed to find a replacement for Turner. 

Now, the Dodgers have some huge question marks at the shortstop position heading into the 2023 season, but of course, replicating Turner's production seemed close to impossible.

 Turner had a career year earning his first career Silver Slugger and making his second All-Star appearance. 

He was also one of the most durable players in the league appearing in at least 160 games for the second time in his career. Turner was a huge reason the Dodgers were so successful and Will Smith told the MLB Network what most LA fans would have wished out of Turner. 

“Trea’s a stud. You see the speed every night, the power. Great shortstop and just overall great player. We’re going to miss him. I would have loved for him to come back and be with us for 10, 11 more years. But congrats to him. I know he’s excited about it, his family’s excited about it. And couldn’t be happier for him.”

The Dodgers' regular season success would have remained for many years to come with Turner and company. Turner reproducing that level of play seemed like a long shot but for someone with his talent, it's a chance you take. 

Turner gets his wish of playing on the East Coast and got deservingly paid for his efforts. Smith and the rest of the Dodgers fanbase can now only ponder what could have been with Turner. 


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Ryan Menzie
RYAN MENZIE

Ryan Menzie | Lead Contributor Ryan is an LA Native who has grown up praising the greatest athletes LA has had to offer. A love for sports ranging between basketball, football, volleyball and golf, a future Sports Management Masters graduate, and being engulfed into organized sports since seven years old, the passion and love for sports never ends for Ryan. If the words he writes don't paint the full picture of his true fandom, he will find more ways than one to tell the story and be more than willing to open up a nice LA sports debate with you. Favorite Player: Mookie Betts Favorite Moment: 2020 World Series. The Lakers won the NBA title and the Dodgers secured the World Series only a couple of months later. During such a rough time with COVID-19 and such a bleak look at how sports has tried to overcome the circumstances, it was a relief to see the night sky lit up for many nights and a makeshift parade in LA when it seemed like we needed it the most.