The 10 worst contracts for players in the National League East right now

5) Worst Contract in the NL East: Trea Turner

Trea Turner has only recently begun to show some signs of life as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. This season has been his worst as a major leaguer. He hasn’t even been able to run a whole lot. Fears of him spoiling the Mets season in late September with his legs are long dead for two reasons. One is because Turner hasn’t been very good. The other is because the Mets have been worse.

Turner signed his 11-year, $300 million contract with the Phillies this offseason with enormous expectations. The Phillies were buying a player they knew would eventually become a payroll burden. They didn’t mind. Their window to win is open. It’s a gamble they were willing to take on a shortstop who has been consistently productive.

The challenge for Turner this year will be to hit over .250 and provide the team with an OBP above the .300 mark. This seemed like a guarantee in the past. Nothing indicated Turner was headed toward such a lousy season in a stellar lineup while playing half of his games in a hitter’s haven.

The contract looks like a mistake for Philly early on, but so do most $300+ million deals. It’s going to take a few more seasons to really determine whether or not this was such a bad contract signing for the ball club. A championship or two with him on the roster will make it worth the price.