Will The Nationals Let Emerging Star Trea Turner Walk Like They Did Bryce Harper?

Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner has become the one of the game's newest stars and that puts a ton of pressure on management. A good problem to have, but who do they pay?

Turner comes into Tuesday hitting a career-high .362 with nine homers and a major-league-leading 59 hits. Don't forget he can run like the wind having stolen 40+ bases multiple times in his career.

The 27-year-old emerging superstar is clearly a long-term need in Washington and GM Mike Rizzo spoke on the team's previous attempt to lock him up.

"He's got a bright future. I know that much. Going to make a lot of money," Rizzo said.

He would go on to share that the team tried to come to an agreement on an extension during Spring Training, but couldn't reach a deal. Signing Turner long-term isn't that simple: Juan Soto, Victor Robles, and what to do with a 37-year-old ace Max Scherzer, looms.

Trea Turner has every tool imaginable at the dish. Power, speed, contact, and most importantly: postseason experience. Never forget former Red Sox star outfielder Mookie Betts checked all the same boxes and was still sent packing for Los Angeles. Getting rid of elite talent like Turner or Betts can haunt the franchise for generations. Of course Turner isn't in the same conversation(talent wise) as Betts, but losing any established star for prospects will sting.

Should the Nats be worried?

The 2019 World Series trophy resides in Washington despite letting Bryce Harper go like your college girlfriend. The team replaced Harper's production with cost-effective talent in their farm system like Juan Soto. That efficiency allowed them to make splashes elsewhere on the roster like Patrick Corbin, who played a key role in relief for the '19 postseason run.

No telling if Trea Turner is the type of guy Washington can replace, but their efforts to sign him in Spring Training doesn't necessarily show their hand, either. Washington's front office made the same claims about their attempt to sign Harper to a $300 million extension.

Simply lip service to let the fan base know how expensive things were getting. Mike Rizzo and D.C. ownership might be massaging expectations for yet another heartbreak.

We'll argue til' the cows come home on the importance of Turner(who can play anywhere in the field), so we'll have to see what Washington decides. Either way, their plans for Soto, Scherzer, and Robles WILL get expensive. Those three will surely change the dynamic with Turner.

Can't pay everybody.