Let’s talk about the Padres and defensive positions, okay?
Fernando Tatis Jr. is a shortstop by training and he was moved to right field by force of circumstances. He did well at position #9… but he hopes to return to his natural position.
However, he might have to stay in the field because the club is overflowing with infield players and he could also trade Juan Soto. It’s going to take some outfielders in that club.
Manny Machado is at third base to stay there… but his elbow surgery could prevent him from starting next season on time.
Jake Cronenworth is better at second base, but circumstances led him to play first base in 2023. He didn’t have a big season.
Prospects Jackson Merrill (shortstop) and Graham Pauley (third base and second base) will try to crack the lineup.
Ha-Seong Kim is excellent defensively and deserves to play on the left side of the infield. Ideally, he’d like to play shortstop, but he respects the fact that Xander Bogaerts is there.
And Xander Bogaerts is there, too. He was promised shortstop for 2023, but nothing more.
The Padres had a good defense in 2023 (especially with Kim at second base helping out in left), but in 2024, everything could be turned upside down by force of circumstances.
And all this will be done while the name of manager Bob Melvin, who must control everything, is circulating in San Francisco. #Uncertainty
In short, big decisions will have to be made since, in reality, many guys want to play shortstop. Kim, Bogaerts, Tatis Jr. and Merrill will fight in camp.
The Padres’ problem? In an ideal world, Kim would be the ideal candidate since defensively, he is truly the best.
But he is not a star, which limits the Padres a little in the management of his file.
Either way, he might have to start the season at third base if Machado is unable to start the season.
We agree that Tatis Jr. is too much in the mix from the infield. But then, once it’s established that Machado will play third base, who will be where?
In an ideal world, Kim would be the shortstop, leaving Bogaerts and Cronenworth on the right side of the infield…and leaving the prospects in AAA.
Note that the DH position could be used in rotation, but that only resolves one problem per day. And if it involves multiple changes each time in the infield, it’s not better.
But in all this, there is still a problem: Bogaerts wants to stay at shortstop. Would he be upset about changing sides to play on the right, something he has never done before?
To choose, he would rather play second base than first cushion. That said, Kim and Cronenworth are more second basemen than first basemen.
Will Bogaerts, who is not great defensively, go to play first base with 10 years remaining on his $280 million contract over 11 seasons? Maybe yes.
Kim has no problem staying at second base and perhaps the simple solution of not moving anyone will be chosen.
But with the end of the Padres’ promise to Bogaerts (he will be at shortstop in 2023 and we’ll see after that), if the club struggles defensively, questions will arise.
