GLENDALE, Ariz. — Trea Turner is back home on the field. It remains to be seen whether he will be making his long-term home in Dodger blue.

With Corey Seager’s departure via free agency, Turner will be an ever-day shortstop again. It’s the position at which he has spent most of his seven-year career though he moved to second base after being acquired by the Dodgers from the Washington Nationals last season, teaming with Seager over the final two months of the regular season and through the Dodgers’ postseason run.

“Yeah, for sure,” Turner said, acknowledging it is a welcome change to be back at his preferred position. “We’re gonna miss him. But for me individually, I’m excited to play shortstop again. It feels so much more normal and natural. I felt like I was almost playing left-handed at second base.

“It was just a little awkward or weird to learn the position on the fly. I feel good back at short. It feels normal. Today was fun.”

Now it’s Turner’s contract status that could be a little awkward.

After making $13 million last season, Turner is in the final year of arbitration eligibility. Because of the lockout, a potential arbitration hearing might not take place until after the season has begun. Teams and eligible players will exchange salary figures on March 22, a process that would normally take place much earlier.

The Nationals reportedly offered Turner a six-year contract extension for approximately $100 million in spring 2020 but discussions never progressed from there, leading to Turner’s trade last summer. The 28-year-old can become a free agent next winter.

Turner said Monday that the Dodgers and his representatives at CAA Sports had “one, like, little phone call before the lockout but nothing of substance … just a conversation between them.”

Turner (the NL batting champ with a .328 average last season) said he is open to having more formal talks at any point.

“I feel like I compartmentalize. I can have a talk if somebody wants to have a talk,” he said. “If not, I’m ready to play and ready to go out there and do what I’ve done for the last however many years. Like I said in the past, I’ll have talks. But if they’re not going to happen, if they don’t or they do, I’m not worried about them. I’m worried about not stinking today. It’s kind of my motto, don’t suck today. So, I’m putting in the time and we’ll let those things take care of themselves.”

KERSHAW LIVE

Kershaw took the mound to throw to hitters in Monday’s workout, his first time facing hitters since he left the mound at Dodger Stadium in the second inning of his Oct. 1 start with pain in his elbow.

The left-hander threw 15 pitches, using his entire pitch mix, to Mookie Betts, Justin Turner and AJ Pollock and then threw the equivalent of a second inning in the bullpen. Kershaw said he felt “good” after the initial test.

“I was really encouraged by today,” Kershaw said. “I felt like everything came out as good as it can for the first time. Hadn’t faced hitters, hadn’t thrown off a dirt mound yet – to do all that stuff and come away feeling good and feel my stuff was in a decent spot was encouraging.”

BACK IN BLUE

Former Dodgers catcher and Angels manager Mike Scioscia was in the Dodgers’ spring training camp last week. Scioscia worked with the catchers in minor-league camp for a few days.

Ron Roenicke – a special assistant in the Dodgers’ front office and a coach on Scioscia’s Angels staff for several years – brokered the visit by Scioscia. It is believed to be the first time Scioscia has been in the Dodgers’ camp since leaving the organization to join the Angels in 2000.

TV TIME

The Dodgers announced several additions to their broadcast team.

Former Angels broadcaster Jose Mota will appear on both Spanish and English broadcasts.

Related Articles

Former Dodger Adrian Gonzalez will appear on studio shows including pre- and post-game shows.

Another former Dodgers first baseman, Eric Karros, will join the broadcast team as an analyst on select games and on pre- and post-game shows.

ESPN broadcaster Jessica Mendoza and 2003 NL Rookie of the Year and two-time All-Star Dontrelle Willis will serve as analysts on select road TV games. Willis has also served as a special assistant in the Dodgers’ front office.

Joe Davis will continue as the primary play-by-play man and Orel Hershiser will remain on broadcasts but with a lessened workload.

ALSO

The Dodgers announced the signings of infielder Jake Lamb and right-handers Mike Wright, Yency Almonte and Reyes Moronta to minor-league contracts with non-roster invitations to major-league camp.