Phillies Plan to Keep Turner at Shortstop

The Phillies plan to open the 2027 season with Trea Turner at shortstop, but president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski says Turner must improve defensively—and at the plate—to keep the role. Turner had the worst season of his career in 2026, batting .242 with 19 home runs and 58 RBIs, committing 21 errors and posting sharply negative defensive metrics, as Philadelphia was eliminated by Atlanta in the Wild Card Series. The Phillies will give Turner a chance to rebound while considering alternatives, including prospects Aidan Miller and Bryan Rincon and possible position changes for Turner. The team hired former Mets manager Carlos Mendoza as infield and third-base coach after dismissing Bobby Dickerson, tasking Mendoza with helping improve the infield defense.