The Washington Nationals have been linked to several different free agents and trade targets throughout the offseason to help add some infield depth and a left-handed presence in the lineup. While he’s a righty, could the 22-year old Trea Turner be ready to take over the everyday starting role on Opening Day in 2016? What’s holding him back?
Following reports of a Brandon Phillips trade falling through, the Nats are left without many options for middle infield depth. While the infield free agent market is still headlined by second basemen Howie Kendrick and Daniel Murphy, both players rejected qualifying offers from their respective teams and will cost the Nats a first-round draft pick if they sign one of them. However, the Nationals’ in-house option of top infield prospect Trea Turner could provide the team with some of that youth and athleticism that their manager is so keen in finding. So, what’s the hold up?
Espinosa likely to open at SS for #Nationals. Turner could be ready mid-season. Espinosa then could platoon with new 2B and fill in at SS.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 14, 2015
When asked about his organization’s top infield prospect’s chances of playing everyday in the majors next season last weekend at Nats’ Winterfest, President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo stated:
"“Trea showed us since we acquired him and really since we had interest in him in the draft that he’s a quality player that he was a fast-track type of player when he was in the draft and we feel that he’s come a long way and is going to be a really good player for us.”"
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Turner, acquired June 14th as the player to be named late in the Wil Myers trade, played in 58 games at double-A San Antonio in the San Diego Padres’ system before being sent to double-A Harrisburg for Washington. He wouldn’t stay long, however, as he recorded only 39 at-bats before being promoted to triple-A Syracuse. Overall, the former 13th overall pick finished his season in the minors hitting a combined .322/.370/.458 with 32 extra base hits and 29 stolen bases.
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Once management had concluded he had worked enough at-bats for one season, the Nationals called Turner up to the majors to get comfortable with the clubhouse he would be spending the next several years in. He appeared in 27 games for the Nats after making his major league debut on August 21st, hitting .225/.295/.325 with a home run and two stolen bases. After the season ended, the Nats decided not to send Turner to the Arizona Fall League, the league’s unofficial primer for top prospects across baseball, hoping to instill a new workout program with their young star and start fresh with him in Spring Training well-rested.
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As Rosenthal reported, the Nats apparently intend to start Turner in triple-A in order to complete his development. However, while this route would certainly be the “safer” option, the market for impact middle infielders is rapidly thinning, and there aren’t many options with higher upside for 2016 than Trea. He hit exceptionally well on all three minor league teams in 2015, making adjustments quickly and adapting well to the level of pitching at which he’s faced. There’s no reason to think those tools can’t translate to the major leagues, and with a big hole in the middle infield, why not Trea Turner?