This past Thursday, Major League Baseball announced their Silver Slugger Award winners for the 2022 regular season, as voted on at each defensive position by MLB managers and coaches in each league.

As a surprise to few (if any), the 2022 National League Silver Slugger Award winners at the shortstop position and one of the three (non-specific) outfield positions went to Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner and Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts, respectively.

Although this is Betts’ fifth Silver Slugger Award in his thus far nine-year MLB career (three in the NL) to go along with his (now) six Gold Gloves, it was Turner’s first in his thus far eight-year MLB career, all in the NL.

The only down side to Turner winning the 2022 NL Silver Slugger Award at the shortstop position is that it could very well be his only one in a Dodgers uniform. As every Dodgers – and baseball – fan on the planet knows, Turner became a free agent when the final out of the 2022 National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres was recorded on October 15; a game in which he went 2-for-5 with a double at one of the game’s current most coveted defensive positions, including by the Dodgers.

Then again, there is no one, absolutely no one, in the game today better at pulling the proverbial ‘rabbit out of his hat’ when it comes to finding – and signing – the very best of the very best at every defensive position than current Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman. As such, there is still a chance, albeit diminishing, that Turner could still be the Dodgers shortstop on Opening Day 2023 – and beyond. If we’ve learned anything about the soon-to-be nine-year Dodgers executive it’s that you never say never with Andrew Friedman.

Not ever.

Play Ball!

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