Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Thursday that Trea Turner must improve at shortstop in 2027 or the team will move him to a different position. Dombrowski spoke at Citizens Bank Park in his first public comments since Philadelphia’s Game 3 loss to Atlanta in the NL Wild Card Series on Oct. 1.
Turner made a league-worst 21 errors at shortstop in 2026, a sharp decline from the eight errors he committed the year before, according to ESPN. His defensive metrics told the same story: Turner posted minus-10 Outs Above Average in 2026, ranking 39th out of 42 qualified shortstops in MLB, after finishing at positive-10 in 2025, per MLB.com.
Dombrowski’s Message To Turner On Shortstop
Dombrowski and Turner met for roughly two hours Tuesday at the ballpark to discuss the shortstop’s defensive performance. Dombrowski said the conversation left no ambiguity about what the Phillies expect heading into 2027.
“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. “He feels he can play, and if he plays shortstop like he did in ’25, he can play shortstop.
But if he plays it like he did in ’26, he can’t. And he totally understands that.”
Dombrowski repeated the warning in blunter terms elsewhere, saying he told Turner directly that last season’s glove work will not be tolerated again. “You have to show it. You cannot play shortstop like you did defensively in ’26 going to ’27,” Dombrowski said, according to ESPN.
What It Means For Turner’s Role
The ultimatum covers only shortstop, not Turner’s roster spot. Dombrowski said the team could shift Turner to the outfield if his defense does not rebound, though Turner prefers to remain in the infield, per MLB.com. Turner has seven years left on the 11-year, $300 million contract he signed in December 2022, a deal that makes trading him impractical for Philadelphia.
Turner’s offense cratered alongside his defense. He hit .242 with a .675 OPS in 2026, a steep fall from his NL-leading batting average in 2025, and went 1-for-10 in the playoffs. Dombrowski said the drop caught him off guard given what the Phillies believed they were paying for.
“I mean, he led the league in hitting last year, so I was surprised myself on the offensive year that he had and that we weren’t able to get out of it, as he was,” Dombrowski said.
Shortstop Alternatives In Philadelphia
If Turner cannot hold the position, the Phillies have internal options. Bryson Stott, who played shortstop for Philadelphia’s 2022 National League champions, is available to slide back over. Prospects Aidan Miller, Philadelphia’s No. 2 prospect and MLB’s No. 59 overall, and Bryan Rincon, the organization’s No. 4 prospect and No. 96 overall, are also shortstop candidates, though MLB.com reported both are more likely midseason additions than Opening Day options.
The Phillies are also changing the staff tasked with developing that group. New infield coach Carlos Mendoza will work directly with Turner on his defense, while longtime hitting coach Kevin Long and infield coach Bobby Dickerson will not return for 2027, according to the New York Post.
Context: A Core Still Chasing A Title
Dombrowski acknowledged Turner will face outside scrutiny over the defensive issue but said he expects the shortstop to manage it. “I can’t control the daily banter about what takes place. He’s not the first player I’ve ever been around that was surrounded by that.
He’s a smart guy. He knows he needs to get better, and I think he’ll deal with it. But he’s got a long time to be here,” Dombrowski said.
Turner is part of an aging core, alongside Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, that has reached the playoffs five straight years and averaged 91 wins per season in that span without a World Series title.
What’s Next
The Phillies enter the offseason with Don Mattingly retained as manager on a two-year deal and a revamped coaching staff, including Mendoza, working with Turner before spring training. No specific evaluation timeline for Turner’s shortstop status has been announced.
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