Turner still unhappy with Nats trade: The communication was bad
Trea Turner is still miffed with the Washington Nationals over the trade that sent him and Max Scherzer to the Los Angeles Dodgers last July.
"It's just that communication is key, and I don't think the communication was good," the All-Star shortstop told The Washington Post's Jesse Daughtery on Tuesday.
Turner added: "I just wanted it to be fair."
The 29-year-old compared his experience with his old team to the current situation between Washington and outfielder Juan Soto.
"I know things change and what not, but I just never thought it was communicated how things had changed, you know what I mean?" Turner said. "When the spring started over there last season, they were telling me they wanted to build around me. It seems like the same stuff is happening with Juan right now."
A frenzy of trade speculation began surrounding Soto after he reportedly rejected a 15-year, $440-million extension offer from Washington. For Turner, he also believed he was lowballed by the Nationals.
"I got offered multiple contract extensions while with the Nationals, and with both of them, I thought I still had better baseball to play," he said.
"I thought I proved that. I don't know if I played too well or something. ... But I wanted to play for them the rest of my career. If they offered something even close to what I thought was my worth, I probably would have took it, and I'd still be there. But they obviously didn't do that."
Turner is scheduled to reach free agency this offseason. While he's yet to engage in meaningful extension talks with the Dodgers, the former batting champion is willing to bet on himself if he reaches the open market.
"What I've learned in the process is if you think you have better baseball to play, then wait," Turner said. "And if you play your best baseball, and you're content with whatever is offered, then maybe you consider taking a deal. It's always going to be tricky. You can only trust yourself."
Turner is having another terrific campaign in 2022. He owns a .308/.353/.499 slash line with 15 home runs, 69 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases in 96 games for the NL West-leading Dodgers.