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SAN DIEGO — The offseason is younger. Greater than two months stay till pitchers and catchers report — greater than two months for basic supervisor A.J. Preller to additional shake issues up in San Diego.
As such, group officers aren’t fairly able to make declarative statements about which gamers may change positions subsequent season.
However this a lot is obvious: The Xander Bogaerts signing adjustments issues in an enormous manner.
At a Friday afternoon press conference to introduce Bogaerts, Preller was adamant that the puzzle items will match — even when it means place adjustments are anticipated for a handful of superstars.
“It isn’t haphazard,” mentioned Preller, who confirmed Bogaerts will play shortstop in 2023. “We have talked about it. Now we have a basic sense of what we will attempt to do. … The widespread theme with all the fellows we have talked to to date is we need to win. Now we have some actually proficient, versatile gamers, and we will use that right here as we go into subsequent 12 months.”
These conversations have begun. Preller and supervisor Bob Melvin spent the previous couple of days chatting with their gamers in regards to the influence of the Bogaerts signing. (They even had a Zoom name with Kim slated for shortly after Bogaerts’ presser.)
However the largest positional domino to fall is Tatis, who, two offseasons in the past, signed a record-setting 14-year deal to be the Padres’ shortstop of the longer term. That is not the case. All of the sudden, it seems Tatis could possibly be set for a full-time shift to the outfield.
“He might play wherever,” Melvin mentioned. “I imply, I am not going to place him behind the plate. However he might play wherever, in in all probability any sport. He is as athletic and proficient a man as there’s within the sport. He is the kind of man that is going to fill any gap.”
Nonetheless, Tatis has all the time made it clear he views himself as a shortstop. Even Bogaerts famous that his presence in San Diego got here as one thing of a shock.
“San Diego was my first All-Star Recreation again in 2016,” Bogaerts mentioned. “So I positively envisioned myself possibly being right here sooner or later. However after they obtained Tatis, I used to be just a little uncertain. I used to be like, ‘That doesn’t match.’ However right here I’m. It’s loopy how the world works.”
Tatis has evidently softened his shortstop-or-bust stance. Final 12 months, earlier than his suspension, the Padres had been anticipating Tatis to play each shortstop and outfield, permitting them to platoon Kim and heart fielder Trent Grisham. Now Tatis gained’t return till mid-April, after testing constructive for a performance-enhancing substance.
“He simply desires to play, and he desires to win,” mentioned Melvin. “We’ll work out what the group seems like on the sphere as we go alongside. Like I mentioned, the offseason remains to be occurring.”
Certainly, the rest of the offseason will dictate the Padres’ precise plans for Tatis. Have been they so as to add a nook outfielder, Tatis might get the majority of his reps in heart. Grisham is a two-time Gold Glover however struggled final season on the plate.
In any other case, Tatis would presumably shift to proper. Soto has spent the majority of his profession there. However proper discipline at Petco Park is way extra spacious than left, and Tatis’ elite athleticism might play properly. As for Soto?
“Both proper or left discipline, he is performed each,” Preller mentioned. “That is one other piece, a man that is had expertise taking part in both nook. He’ll know the place he will play and lock in at one spot. We’ll see how the remainder of the offseason goes earlier than we’ve got that dialog.”
The infield dynamic is equally difficult. Kim was a Gold Glove finalist at shortstop. Cronenworth was a Gold Glove finalist at second. Each will likely be requested to play elsewhere.
However Kim has already confirmed himself an impressive defensive second baseman. Similar for Cronenworth at first. Have been the Padres to signal a primary baseman — nonetheless a definite chance — there will likely be additional positional inquiries to ask. However the emptiness at designated hitter helps mitigate that infield logjam.
“Croney has the flexibility clearly at second and first,” Preller mentioned. “… Ha-Seong taking part in any of the infield spots, Tati infield or outfield — we will see how the following couple weeks go, from a roster standpoint, and see what we’re left with.”
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