When the Phillies signed Trea Turner to an 11-year, $300 million contract in the winter, it was one of the biggest moves of the offseason. At the time, the defending National League champions added a top shortstop on the second-biggest deal of the winter.
However, Turner hasn’t lived up to his contract to begin his Phillies career. Through 46 games, the shortstop has totaled a .693 OPS, which would be his lowest since his rookie season, with just four home runs and six stolen bases.
Turner understands how poorly he’s played, and had a very blunt response when asked about his struggles.
“I’m honest with myself, I’ve sucked,” he said, via ESPN.
Turner called this stretch “probably” his worst slump ever, so he has to approach each game and each at bat as a way to try and improve and remain upbeat.
“I tell myself straight, and I don’t lie to myself. I think I’m a positive guy,” he said. “I think I can always do better and can always be better. That’s the attitude I have, but at the same time, I know when I don’t do something right.”
Philadelphia is off to a slow start as a team, entering Tuesday with a 22–25 record, good for fourth place in the NL East. Besides Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Alec Bohm have also struggled at times this year, but with Bryce Harper back and over 100 games to play, Philadelphia can turn it around like they did last year, when they rebounded from a slow start to clinch the final wild-card spot and made a run to the World Series.