SAN DIEGO — It doesn’t take long to Xander Bogaerts was asked if he expected to become Padres San Diego‘ full-time short despite the team already having two solid players in the position.
“I play in the yard. I play at short distances,” said the smiling Bogaerts after donning the home team’s number 2 white striped jersey and brown cap during Friday’s press conference at Petco Park.
Bogaerts and Padres completed a $280 million, 11-year deal after the four-time All-Star winner overcame his fitness.
The deal with the 30-year-old Bogaerts shows owner Peter Seidler’s willingness to continue spending big to try to win the elusive World Series title.
Padres had two stops on the list, including Fernando Tatis Jr., who will be eligible again on April 20 after being suspended for 80 games for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug. other is Ha Seong Kimwho played well when filling in Tatis, a 2021 All-Star who missed the whole of last season.
Bogaerts join an already in-depth formation that includes a third sentry Manny Machado and midfielder Juan Soto.
“The list is stacked, top to bottom, it’s unbelievable,” said Bogaerts, a native of Aruba, who signed with the team. Boston Red Sox at the age of 16 and helped them win the World Series in 2013 and 2018. “When they beat the Dodgers here, seeing how passionate the fans were in the knockout stages, it was exciting to watch on TV. .”
Padres eliminated the win 101 New York Mets in the knockout stages before beating opponents 111 wins in National League West Dodgers Los Angeles in Series Division. They lost the NL Championship Series first Philadelphia in five games.
With Bogaert’s arrival, it is expected that Tatis will move out onto the outfield when he returns, with Kim taking over for second place. All-Star’s Second Player Jake Cronenworth will likely move to the first. Tatis was gearing up to make a comeback from a broken left wrist when he was suspended by MLB on Aug. 12. He then had troublesome left shoulder surgery as well as a follow-up surgery on his wrist.
General manager AJ Preller said that when he spoke to Machado about bringing in Bogaerts as another quarterback/midfielder, the All-Star response was: “The more the merrier.”
After last season, Bogaerts opted to terminate his six-year, $120 million contract with Boston, forfeiting his $20 million salary for each of the next three years after hitting 0.307 with 15 key players. home and 73 RBI after 150 games.
“We were looking for the right fit, the right piece of the puzzle that would help us get ahead,” says Preller. “When we met earlier this week, he told me he ‘had baseball’. He was a 24/7 guy about the game.”
Bogaerts is a player with a career record of 0.292 with 156 home goals and 683 RBIs in 10 major league seasons — all against Boston.
He had his best season in 2019, batting 0.309 with 33 career best home players and 117 RBIs. He had 23 home runs and 103 RBIs in 2018.
In 44 post-season games, Bogaerts was the one hitting 0.231 with 5 home players and 16 RBIs.
The Padres awarded Machado a $300 million, 10-year free contract in 2019 and signed Tatis to a $340 million, 14-year deal. in 2021.
“This is a city heading towards its first world championship,” Seidler said. “Hopefully one day, the baseball gods will smile at our city.”
San Diego made it to the World Series in 1984 and 1998 and routed both times.
Earlier this week, the Padres made an effort to sign free agents Trea Turner and Judge Aarondespite what has been reported to offer more profit.
They are quite satisfied with the star they signed.
Bob Melvin, Padres’ manager, said: “Having a guy like Xander, it’s not just the numbers he gives, it’s his personality. “He makes us better, so we’ll see where this goes.”
