The Phillies have just signed the second best shortstop and arguably the fastest man in Major League Baseball (MLB), Trea Turner. At the age of just 29, Trea Turner has played in the MLB for eight years. He grew up in Boynton Beach, Florida and attended Park Vista Community High School. Turner went on to play ball at North Carolina State University and was then drafted in the first round of the 2014 MLB draft to the San Diego Padres before being traded to the Nationals in 2015. He is a two time stolen base champ with 230 stolen bases, and a two time All-Star. In his eight-year Major League journey, he has hit 124 homeruns. Now, Turner will become the number 7 for the Philadelphia Phillies after signing an astonishing 11-year, 300 million dollar contract. Another bonus to signing Turner is that he and Bryce Harper played together when they were both with the Washington Nationals which should make his transition easier. Interestingly, Turner was also offered an 11-year 342 million dollar contract from the Padres, but turned it down for the Phillies. I guess he was craving a Philly Cheesesteak! 

Next season should be a great one for the Phillies. In addition to signing Turner, they have also signed a right-handed pitcher, Taijuan Walker. Walker is thirty years old and has played in the MLB since 2013, originally for the Mets and then as a free agent. The Phillies have signed Walker with a 4-year, 72 million dollar contract. In addition to Walker, the Phillies also signed thirty-one-year-old, left-handed pitcher Matt Strahm to a two-year, 15 million dollar contract. In his 10 year MLB career, Strahm has played for the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres, and Boston Red Sox. 

In other changes, the Phillies let Zach Eflin, Kyle Gibson, David Robertson, Noah Syndergaard, and Brad Hand go to free agency, along with Corey Knebel and second baseman Jean Segura. All of these players helped the Phillies make it to the World Series and helped make history. Overall, the Phillies have made some great moves this offseason, especially signing the talented Trea Turner, which promises an exciting 2023 MLB season!