The Los Angeles Dodgers went for their second consecutive World Series last season. And at the trade deadline, they went for it all, acquiring Max Scherzer and Trea Turner from the Washington Nationals in a blockbuster.
The Dodgers lost to the eventual champion Atlanta Braves in the NLCS, and Scherzer left. Turner, however, still calls Dodger Stadium home. Ahead of his return to the nation's capital, he spoke with The Athletic about the move.
“When I was with the Padres, I thought I’d play there 20 years. And when I was with the Nationals, I thought I’d play there 20 years,” Turner said at the time of the trade. “I liked the organizations I’ve been part of. I liked the people there. I would’ve loved to stay there.”
The 28-year-old shortstop reflected upon those comments, telling The Athletic, “I think everything I said before was true. I thought I’d be there. But I think it is what it is. I’m not mad about it. I thought I’d be with the Padres for a long time (before they traded him in 2014), too. In the moment, based on the things, situation and what I was told and how I felt, and whatnot, I thought it would last. But that’s not always the case.
“I’m really enjoying it here. I think the best things are always true and I try to be honest, and I was. I feel good here (in Los Angeles), and I’m glad everything worked out.”
Turner accomplished a lot in Washington, but none more special than the magical run the Nationals went on in 2019 that culminated in the franchise's first World Series championship.
Turner didn't have the best postseason but is still remembered for his role in turning around a team that was 19-31 at one point in the season and marching towards a championship. He spoke glowingly about Juan Soto, who was also a big part of that title run.
“If that guy’s on your team, you guys are lucky,” Turner said. “I think Nats fans obviously know that, and I think a lot of the country knows that. ... If there’s one person I could play with again, for sure it would be him.”
Speaking of Soto, Turner mentioned to the Washington Post that he tries to remain in touch with his former teammates.
“I try to keep up with Juan [Soto] and Patrick [Corbin] and the guys and see what they’re doing, [Josh Bell] ... how they’re playing,” Turner said. “You look at the box score, and you see so many different names that I never played with. A lot has changed, but that’s what happens in the business of baseball."
While the 28-year-old former batting champion is enjoying life in LA, he maintains that he wasn't expecting to be dealt last year.
“A lot of guys thought they were going to be traded,” Turner said of his blockbuster move. “Max had to waive his no-trade clause, and some of the relievers ... they were on one-year deals. But I didn’t necessarily know I was going to get traded until ... the week of it."
And Turner is off to a nice start as the Dodgers starting shortstop. He hit .338 in 52 games last year, and he has two homers and 32 RBI with a .289/.352/.409 slash line this season in Dodger Blue.
