PEORIA, Ariz. — Bob Melvin couldn’t have identified that puzzle-building was going to be a significant talent when he signed on to handle the San Diego Padres. However with a rollicking roster filled with top-shelf expertise, and an virtually absurd abundance of shortstops, right here he’s, items tumbling from the field and strewn everywhere in the desk.
Xander Bogaerts’s arrival as a free agent this low season made clear that one of many spring’s trickiest features could be becoming all these items collectively. The Padres have what can be considered one of Main League Baseball’s 4 highest payrolls in 2023, based on Spotrac, but the workforce will often be enjoying as many as 4 gamers out of place.
They’ve been so aggressive that as we speak’s plan usually adjustments with tomorrow’s dawn. The most recent instance got here Sunday when a looming story line for the workforce — Manny Machado’s anticipated opt-out after the season — was eradicated by his agreeing to phrases on a brand new 11-year, $350 million deal, the small print of which had been confirmed by an individual on situation of anonymity as a result of the deal has but to be formally introduced.
Now, Machado (signed by means of 2033), Bogaerts (2033) and Fernando Tatis Jr. (2034) will presumably develop outdated collectively in San Diego as each Machado and Bogaerts have full no-trade clauses. These offers, and the potential for an excellent greater one for outfielder Juan Soto, who is 2 seasons away from free company, have led many to marvel how the Padres can presumably afford to pay for all of these stars on a long-term foundation.
The Padres’ proprietor, Peter Seidler, stating that “there’s a threat to doing nothing, too,” is working to fend off criticism about how “sustainable” this plan is.
“Individuals love that phrase,” he stated of sustainability. “Let’s discover a totally different one. Do I consider our parade goes to be on land or on water or on each?
“Placing a terrific and profitable workforce on the sphere in San Diego yr after yr is sustainable.”
First, the workforce might want to type out its varied items. The domino impact begins with the set up of Bogaerts at shortstop, which suggests final yr’s shortstop, Ha-Seong Kim, will slide over to second base. And final yr’s second baseman, Jake Cronenworth, will transfer to first base.
When Tatis, the workforce’s beginning shortstop from 2019 to 2021, returns from his performance-enhancing-drug suspension on April 20, he’s anticipated to play proper discipline. Soto, who performed proper discipline for the Padres after a commerce from the Washington Nationals final season, will transfer to left.
It’s the kind of state of affairs that would result in confusion, bruised egos and what could really feel like a 1,000-piece field of sad gamers.
Cronenworth downplayed that concept.
“All of us can’t put on the identical glove on the similar place, however we are able to all contribute wherever we’re enjoying that day,” he stated.
That angle is almost certainly the results of Melvin’s having begun a prolonged collection of delicate conversations many weeks in the past. He has been happy on the general response to this point.
“They stated, ‘Look, we simply wish to assist our workforce win,’” Melvin stated. “And simply because Kim’s going to get numerous reps at second doesn’t imply he may not find yourself with shortstop on days Xander will get off. After which Croney’s going to play second once more versus first. So within the general look proper now, there are some conversations. However there haven’t been any tough ones up to now.”
For years, groups with glossy, athletic outfields have favored the outdated cliché: “It’s like we’ve got three middle fielders.” Uniquely, the Padres will line up a workforce of shortstops. Not solely is that the pure place of Bogaerts, Kim and Tatis, however Cronenworth additionally performed shortstop on the College of Michigan. Even Machado was a star shortstop in his Baltimore days.
The glut of infield choices makes Tatis’s transfer to the outfield really feel pretty everlasting, and, in contrast to the final time the workforce tried this, it’s not contentious. Again in 2021, after a dislocated shoulder popped out a number of occasions, Tatis was despatched by the Padres to the outfield for twenty-four video games in the course of the second half of that season in hopes of preserving him more healthy.
He didn’t seem to benefit from the transfer, and his usually energetic recreation dimmed.
“I used to be pissed off with myself due to my well being points,” Tatis stated of the notable downturn.
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Throughout his suspension, which together with accidents value him all the 2022 season, Tatis, 24, addressed a few of his well being issues. He underwent surgical procedure to restore the shoulder and a revision process on his left wrist, which he fractured in a bike crash in December 2021. He’s totally wholesome this spring, however he has not performed in a serious league recreation since Oct. 3, 2021.
Bogaerts, 30, identified that enjoying shortstop can take an enormous toll on the physique and cited Tatis’s earlier accidents as a great purpose to strive one thing new, as a result of, he stated, “this can be a man that the workforce, and the sport basically, needs to see on the sphere as a lot as potential.”
Bogaerts, who endured his personal stint of being moved off his main place in 2014, stated he was initially shocked when the Padres, who already had Tatis signed to a long-term deal, approached him with what turned an 11-year, $280 million supply. However Tatis, due to his myriad points over the previous two seasons, had misplaced any leverage to quibble about the place he performs on the sphere.
“I knew from the start that they had been attempting to make the workforce higher,” Tatis stated of the acquisition of Bogaerts. “Xander is a good participant. I knew he could be a key to us profitable a World Collection.”
Tatis stated he was “ready for every thing.” Principally, he’s working within the outfield — Bogaerts cited Tatis’s arm as an enormous asset in proper discipline — and when requested whether or not he thought he would return to shortstop at some point, Tatis stated he didn’t know.
“A number of stuff occurs on this recreation,” he stated. “You possibly can’t be stunned. I’m simply going to be prepared wherever they inform me they want me.”
Machado’s new deal appears to minimize the chances of such a return. Bogaerts, to many, had represented insurance coverage in case Machado opted out after this season. If that had occurred, Bogaerts might have moved to 3rd base, making room for Tatis at shortstop, however that path now seems blocked.
Even with the workforce’s defensive positioning having been determined for the foreseeable future, the current for San Diego is difficult by the Padres having a number of gamers, together with Bogaerts, Kim and Machado, on the verge of leaving for the World Baseball Basic. The time away will restrict the chance for the double-play mixture of Bogaerts and Kim to achieve familiarity. And Kim, who’s statistically the workforce’s finest defensive possibility at shortstop, will pause his improvement at second base to play his pure place for Korea.
“That’s the half I fear about probably the most, is perhaps them not getting as many reps collectively,” Melvin stated of his infielders.
No matter how the items match collectively, the gathering of stars had led to a sense in San Diego that the workforce, which performed within the Nationwide League Championship Collection in October, is on the verge of one thing particular. The membership capped season ticket gross sales for the primary time in historical past, at roughly 24,000, and has a ready record. The Padres seem poised to attract three million followers for less than the second time in membership historical past and will set a membership report.
It’s the kind of surge that has Machado, 30, scoffing at workforce house owners who complain in regards to the Padres’ hovering payroll.
“All of them have the means for it,” Machado stated on his first day in camp. “To me, it’s simply in the event that they wish to or in the event that they wish to win. So, Peter has proven an curiosity that he needs to win.”
And if that shakes up positions or egos, so be it.
“Hopefully all of it works out, man,” Bogaerts stated. “It’s purported to be a enjoyable, particular season. Hopefully the result is one thing actually particular.”
James Wagner contributed reporting.