Don’t expect Tatis or Merrill to shift from the outfield.
It’s somewhat ironic that the San Diego Padres, despite having numerous players with shortstop experience, are looking for a new shortstop this offseason. However, General Manager AJ Preller appears disinterested in relocating Fernando Tatis Jr. or Jackson Merrill to the infield.
With Ha-Seong Kim likely opting out of his contract’s final year, the Padres have enough internal options to replace him. Preller prefers to maintain what has proven effective.
“They’d probably love that possibility,” he remarked about Tatis and Merrill. “They always joke around — ‘Whatever’s needed.’ The great thing about those guys is they’re talented athletes who can play various positions. … But Tati winning the Platinum Glove two years ago and Jackson excelling in center field this year show they excel in the outfield.”
At 25 years old, Tatis has played 242 Major League games at shortstop but has mainly been in right field over the past two years. Merrill, a rookie, played only center field in his first Major League season but has 196 games as a shortstop in the minors.
If the Padres decide against moving a current player, they could either re-sign Kim or pursue another free agent shortstop like Willy Adames.
The Padres’ internal shortstop options: From Fernando Tatis Jr. to Manny Machado
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