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SportsMoney Phillies Say Trea Turner ‘Puts Us All In A Bad Place’ With Shortstop Trade Looming By Peter Chawaga ,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Peter Chawaga is a writer and editor covering Major League Baseball. Follow Author Jul 31, 2026, 06:00am EDT --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . Summary The Philadelphia Phillies face critical questions ahead of the MLB trade deadline, as their post-All-Star break skid highlights underperformance from their veteran core. Superstar shortstop Trea Turner is under intense scrutiny, leading MLB with 19 errors and enduring a career-low offensive stretch since his $300 million contract. Infield coach Bobby Dickerson openly stated Turner is "in a bad place," impacting the entire team due to his mental struggles and defensive regression. These candid comments align with rumors linking the Phillies to a potential blockbuster trade for Angels shortstop Zach Neto. Such a move could shift Turner to second base or the outfield, underscoring the Phillies' acknowledgment that his current struggles are a significant team issue.
The Philadelphia Phillies enter the final days before the MLB trade deadline facing questions that extend beyond simply adding another bat or bullpen arm.
As the surge under interim manager Don Mattingly devolves into a skid following the All-Star break, the Phillies face some existential questions about how far they can get with their veteran core of superstar players. And as virtually all of the roster has underperformed in recent weeks, franchise shortstop Trea Turner appears to be under particular scrutiny.
Turner has had an up-and-down tenure with the Phillies after joining the team on an 11-year, $300 million contract .
He has had some prolonged slumps at the plate, but now his ability to defend the shortstop position has come into question as well. He currently leads all of baseball with 19 errors so far.
Recently, the Phillies acknowledged just how costly Turner’s defensive regression has been for the team as a whole.
“Right now he’s in a bad place,” infield coach Bobby Dickerson told The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber . “And it puts us all in a bad place, really.”
Though shortstop is one of the most challenging positions on the diamond, Turner’s struggles this season have often appeared mental and raised questions about just how much longer the veteran can expect to play there.
“He’s just in a place where he’s searching, and he’s too internal with his thought process,” Dickerson added, per Lauber. “The ball’s put in play, and he’s thinking more about what to do with his body than engaging with the ball. ... You can see he’s a step late, not as aggressive, not as decisive.”
And it isn’t helping matters that Turner's defensive struggles have coincided with one of the weakest offensive stretches of his career.
Dickerson’s honest feedback for Turner comes as the team has been linked to a prominent shortstop upgrade on the trade market.
ESPN's Jeff Passan identified Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto as a potential target, saying that the Phillies “have had conversations” with the Angels about acquiring him, during a recent SportsCenter segment .
Passan noted that acquiring Neto would mean a move for Turner, who could shift to second base with Bryson Stott making way or with a move to the outfield taking off some of the defensive pressure.
Whether such a blockbuster ultimately materializes remains uncertain. But the public comments from Dickerson make it clear that the Phillies recognize that Turner's current struggles at shortstop are affecting more than just one player.
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